A BUDGET of $9.2 billion was approved by the National Assembly on Wednesday for the development of the Tourism, Industry, and Commerce sectors. The government aims to prioritise the growth of tourism and small businesses in the current year.

While continuing the examination of the estimates in the National Assembly, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Oneidge Walrond noted that some 60 persons will be trained in several communities in the Digital in Motion Programme.

“This is a programme that helps Small and Micro Enterprises to train them to use digital methods to support their businesses and to enhance productivity and capacity as well as connectivity in the market,” she stated.

Furthermore, a sum of 450 million was allocated to the Small Business Development Fund this year.

According to Minister Walrond, this administration has distributed approximately 4,000 grants through the Small Business Bureau, totaling $999m, since assuming office in 2020. This is in contrast to the 900 grants provided by the previous administration throughout their entire tenure in office.

“These grants are open to all Guyanese and small and micro enterprises that wish to apply and to all regions,” Minister Walrond stated.

Regarding the Lethem Industrial Estate, the Minister mentioned that a significant portion of the business incubator has been completed, with an additional section slated for completion in 2024.

“In 2024, we are outfitting further the business incubator area. We are taking applications for the industrial estate proper and applications as well for the business incubator area…that’s where we will be doing agro-processing, garment processing, food processing, purification of water…these are the kinds of activities that we are inviting on the estate,” she stated.

Furthermore, a sum of $835 million has been assigned to the Onderneeming industrial development project in Region Two. This allocation aims to facilitate the ongoing development of a 52-acre land area designated for industrial purposes. The scheduled deadline for completion is in October. The land is currently being cleared in order to establish an Industrial Estate in Linden.

Minister Walrond has outlined the aim of industrial development in Wales, which is to elevate the level of value-added activities in the Wales Development Zone. Furthermore, it has been confirmed that the implementation of this project will commence in the current year.

Meanwhile, the Ministry will support Guyana’s participation in the Japan Tourism Expo, slated for 2025, at a cost of $30M.

The ministry will allocate a budget of $77M to support local events through the Guyana Tourism Authority this year, in addition to $27M under the Department of Tourism.

The list of events encompasses the Guyana Energy Conference, Mashramani, T20, Rupununi Rodeo, Interschools Kayaking Competition, Rupununi Music and Arts Festival, Berbice Expo, Guy Expo, Building Expo, Agri Expo, CPL Cricket South Rupununi Safari, Moraikobai Offroad Safari, and various others.

“There has been a reason that tourism has been seeing the success it is seeing right now it is with a clear vision and a plan” she stated.

There will also be training through the Department of Tourism that will benefit the various regional tourism committees and staff of the ministry, and the development of community-based tourism development handbooks.

A regional travel guide is being developed for each region, highlighting the unique attractions.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education has undertaken the signing of the contract for the construction of the Hospitality Institute.

“We are about to start the consultancy for the build out of that institute, the ministry of tourism will be supporting the curriculum development for the institute, in the meanwhile we continue to train, throughout the regions we have trained about 12 hundred persons in safety, cuisine management, hotel management and we continue to do that throughout all of the regions,” Minister Walrond stated.

Within the scope of Rural Enterprise Development, two call centres will be established in Region Five, resulting in the creation of 800 employment opportunities.