A LANDMARK Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Saturday between Guyana, Suriname, Canada and the Dominican Republic (DR) business chambers, and the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency to foster greater relations.
During an interview with reporters, the Chairman of the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Dr. Vishnu Doerga outlined how these MoUs formalise a framework for collaboration between Guyana and these partners while building capacity through joint ventures.

The MoUs signified collaboration among the three agencies and were signed by a representative from the European Union (EU)-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Alista Bishop; Executive director for the Dominican Republic (DR)-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Leonida Foo Lily; Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Rochelle Parasram; and the Chairman of the Suriname Guyana Chamber of Commerce, Dr Doerga.

The signing of these MoUs took place after the launch of the International Business Conference at the Mariott Hotel in Georgetown.
Dr Doerga said, “We’ve been meeting now for months, looking at ways how we can better collaborate to reduce redundancy, to share more information between ourselves and for all of us to operate more effectively to serve our members more effectively. And we have already been collaborating but today (Saturday) we’ve decided to put this formally on paper to ensure that we clearly outline the rules by which we will operate to make it a lot more efficient.”

Dr Doegra further stated within the coming days, MoUs will be signed with several other chambers- American Chamber of Commerce Guyana (AmCham Guyana), British Chamber of Commerce Guyana (BritCham Guyana) and India-Guyana Chambers.
Further, the representative from the EU-Guyana Chamber of Commerce highlighted how the EU wants to strengthen its relationship with Guyana and Suriname.

She also noted that there is much more that will blossom from the relationship between Guyana and the EU, especially with the France embassy being established next year.
Additionally, Lily from the DR-Guyana Chamber of Commerce pointed out how the joint venture tackles the challenge of connectivity within the Caribbean region.
She highlighted that the opportunities for connectivity and trade between Guyana and the DR have now increased with the opening of Sky High Dominicana Airlines. Then, the CEO of the Canada-Guyana Chamber of Commerce underscored the importance of trade flowing freely in both countries.

She further stated that the MoU will address any challenges so that investors can know “Guyana, is open for business.”
There was also a MoU signed between the Suriname Investment and Trade Agency (SITA) and the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce. The MoU was signed by the Director of the SITA, Amar Alakhramsing and Dr Doegra.

Alakhramsing, in an interview with reporters, said that the promotion of Guyana and Suriname is now crucial.
He also highlighted the fruitfulness of the previous agreement between Guyana Office for Investment and the SITA that targeted enhancing trade and Foreign Direct Investment between the two countries.

These MoUs stand firm to what was expressed by the Ambassador of the Republic of Suriname to Guyana, Liselle Blankendal, on the sidelines of the launch.
Speaking on the relationship between Guyana and Suriname business chambers, she said: “It is the intention of both Presidents (Guyana and Suriname) that when it comes to trade, that the goods to Suriname and the goods to Guyana can go to each other’s country without any challenges.”