-official IBC app launched to connect businesses
-second edition of conference set for February 2025 in Suriname

AS time counts down for the inaugural International Business Conference set to be held in Guyana later this month, some 83 speakers and business leaders have already been confirmed for the event which is a catalyst for fostering strategic partnerships between businesses.

This was disclosed on Tuesday by the organisers of the conference which is being hosted by the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA).

During a media briefing, Chief Investment Officer at the Guyana Office for Investment (Go-Invest), Dr Peter Ramsaroop told members of the media that this initiative which is being held between Suriname and Guyana, fits President Dr Irfaan Ali’s goal of making Guyana a conference destination among other things.

“The government is in full support of this conference. We plan to put as much effort into welcoming all the attendees who are looking both at government to business meetings and business to business meetings,” he said.

Added to this, he noted that while the government has always ensured that Guyana is an attractive destination for business and investments, the government is expected to announce more incentives in the manufacturing and agro-processing industries during the conference.

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Suriname-Guyana Chamber Dr Vishnu Doerga indicated that as time counts down, the conference has exceeded the number of delegates that they were initially targeting with some 557 registered as of last week.

Added to this, he stated that the conference already has 83 confirmed speakers, ready to deliver high quality content that investors and businesses will be looking for. This he said includes a mix of Guyanese, Surinamese and other regional and international experts.

Against this backdrop, in a move to foster connectivity between businesses and participants set to attend the conference, the official mobile application was also launched on Tuesday.

“Not only will you have access if you’re a delegate… any member of the public will also be able to download the app and be able to see what is happening,” he said.

This move to make the app available for the general public, he said is one to ensure that no one feels excluded in relation to what is being discussed and some of the significant partnerships that will be formed following the conference.

The Suriname Ambassador to Guyana, Liselle Blankendal commended the hosting of the conference and noted that she expects that the conference will develop new strategic partnerships between local businesses and international investors, attract fresh investment prospects and facilitate business expansion in Guyana, Suriname and the wider Caribbean.

“The IBC 2024 will not only strengthen ties between Caribbean nations but also reinforce the region’s role as a hub for international trade and investment, driving sustainable growth for years to come,” Blankendal said.

In light of this, the Ambassador added that the Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce and its partners have seen it fit to carry on the success and momentum and organise the second International Business Conference in Suriname from February 4 to February 6, 2025.

That second edition, she said will build on the foundation that will be laid at this year’s conference in Guyana.

Representing the co-host of the conference, GMSA, Orson Ferguson also shared similar sentiments, noting that the goal for this conference is to achieve streamlining, the ease of doing business and facilitating investments between international companies across multiple sectors in Guyana and Suriname.
“We believe the conference offers tremendous opportunity for local companies, especially our members to learn from each other and subject matter experts across multiple sectors,” Ferguson added.