MINISTER of Human Services and Social Security, Dr Vindhya Persaud, has extended heartfelt gratitude to corporate Guyana for its unwavering support of the WE LIFT (Women Empowerment – Leading, Innovating, Flourishing Together) initiative.

Taking place on April 20 and 21 at the National Aquatic Centre, Liliendaal, Greater Georgetown, WE LIFT 4 promises to be the ultimate destination for women-owned businesses and supporters of women’s economic empowerment.
It will showcase the resilience, creativity, and innovation of women entrepreneurs, providing them with a platform to showcase their products and services to a wider audience.

With over 250 women-owned businesses represented, attendees can expect to find a diverse range of offerings, including art, crafts, construction, design, decor, beauty enhancement, catering, agro-processing, and much more.

Minister Persaud, speaking at a press conference held at her secretariat on Lamaha Street, Georgetown, emphasised the pivotal role played by business entities in driving social change and fostering inclusive development.
She commended their commitment to corporate social responsibility and hailed their contributions as instrumental in advancing entrepreneurship among women.

Nations Incorporated, ExxonMobil (Guyana), Demerara Bank Limited, Banks DIH, ENET, and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) are the event’s principal sponsors this year.
Also on board is GTT.

On Tuesday, representatives from the first three firms handed out cheques in various amounts to Minister Persaud.
The ministry has said that this significant investment will propel WE LIFT 4 to new heights, enabling them to provide an environment that is conducive to female business development and a hub for networking, uplifting and empowering women across the nation.

“Thank you to all our sponsors for believing in WE LIFT and more importantly for working with us to provide the largest expo that features women-owned businesses in our country and perhaps in the region. And the point needs to be made that all the years that we’ve done it and this year, everything is provided to the women free of cost,” Dr Persaud said.

Head of Marketing at Demerara Bank Limited, Pravini Ramotar, said the financial institution is committed to supporting women entrepreneurs in Guyana.
Recognising the significant role women play in driving economic growth and development, Ramotar said that Demerara Bank has pledged to provide tailored financial solutions and resources to women-owned businesses to promote women’s economic development.

For example, at WE LIFT 4, she stated that the bank will offer lower interest rates and waive processing fees for loan applications to customers interested in financing their enterprises.
Pamela O’Toole, Director of Nations Incorporated, stated that the company is glad to sponsor an initiative that allows women to exhibit their enterprises.

“I hope that this partnership can continue for many years to come,” she said.
Meanwhile, ExxonMobil’s Community Relations Adviser in Guyana, Ryan Hoppie, stated that women’s empowerment is critical to the oil firm, which is why it has returned as a sponsor this year.

“We are happy to come on board again this year, supporting and giving women the opportunity and the platform to showcase their businesses, to network and of course, to uplift each other,” he said.
Minister Persaud lauded Demerara Bank Limited for its proactive role in providing tailored financial solutions to women entrepreneurs.

According to her, financing is always something that determines how far women can go and if they can even start their own business.
“So, I think that Demerara Bank Limited coming on board with this offer of lowered interest rates and also waiving the processing fee is a very good step for those women because, on site, they can access this opportunity and it’s specially done for the WE LIFT initiative.”

Dr. Persaud stated that women are taking advantage of the opportunity.
She stated that for some, it may be a startup while others may seek to expand their business.

While WE LIFT 4 has several sponsors, Nations Inc is the largest, and the educational institution has been working with the government to provide free training to women.

According to Dr. Persaud, We LIFT 4 demonstrates the government’s commitment to empowering women and upskilling them through vocational training, allowing them to achieve financial independence. Admission to WE LIFT 4 is free and gates open from 14:00 hours to 20:00 hours.