SEVERAL female entrepreneurs from Guyana have been selected to participate in a four-day Women in Business Trade Exchange Programme in New Orleans, Louisiana, organised by the Louisiana District Export Council, Jones Walker LLP, and Techniques International.

The event, called “Advancing Women in Business,” is a reverse trade exchange and aims to provide women with an opportunity to experience a trade mission from a different perspective, as typically trade missions come from other countries into Guyana.

The women participating are Rowena Elliot, President of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Arifa Mohamed, Business Development Manager, Social Rank Media/ACE Consultancy; Ulex Smith – CEO/Owner, Signature Move Marketing Agency; Donna Rickford, CEO/Owner, Supreme Laundromat and Office Cleaning Services.

Dr Melissa Varswyk, Co-Founder and CEO, Georgetown American University; Beverly Whittaker, Associate Manager, Global Logistics and Business Services Inc; Nicola Whittaker, President/CEO, Global Logistics and Business Services Inc; Josephine Tapp, Managing Director, B&J Civil Works; and Anita Ramprasad, Founder/CEO, Prestige Management Consultant, are also a part of the delegation.

This delegation was selected after an invitation was sent to business chambers countrywide with the hope of attracting nominees from women-owned and operated businesses; the women are slated to depart Guyana on Tuesday.

The programme, which runs from April 19-22, will include various business-building sessions, business meetings, roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities that could help the participants develop their businesses.

The women represent various sectors such as logistics, marketing, consultancy, and construction, and they will also hold discussions with US leaders and stakeholders on business opportunities in Guyana.

Director of Communications for the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana, Anita Rampersad, said this is the first women-in-business trade exchange.

“It is a reverse trade exchange. Typically, trade missions come from other countries into Guyana, and they are hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the United States Embassy or through a government ministry. It allows businesses to participate in various business-building sessions,” she said.

Rampersaud stressed that the business-leadership exchange is somewhat different, as it focuses primarily on women.

“Through a collaboration with the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana, our partners in Louisiana reached out and planned the event that will afford women the opportunity to travel, sit and experience a trade mission from a different perspective,” she added.

She said that the women participating in the trade exchange represent various sectors, among them, logistics, marketing, consultancy and construction.

“Each of these women is at a point in their business life where they are looking to do what they now do better; expand, grow or leverage what they have, to venture into something new,” Rampersaud said.

The exchange programme will see the group participate in business meetings, round table discussions and networking opportunities that could further develop their businesses. The delegation will also hold discussions with US leaders and stakeholders on business opportunities in Guyana.