-GCCI, PSC leaders spotlight infrastructure gains, expanding opportunities

GUYANA’S blossoming private sector is making its presence felt and growth known at the International Building Expo 2025, which was officially declared open on Thursday evening.

Being held under the theme “Road to Success, 2030 and Beyond,” business leaders, government officials, and industry stakeholders can together at the opening ceremony for the four-day event at the National Stadium, Providence.

During their remarks, both the President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Kathy Smith and Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Capt. Gerald Gouveia Jr, highlighted the record-breaking infrastructure investments Guyana has seen in recent times and its unprecedented impact on rising business capacity and transforming the nation’s economic landscape.

In her address, Smith pointed out the $200 billion allocated in the 2025 national budget for road and bridge construction. She stated that the investments were not only improving travel but are also creating major opportunities for businesses. “Our roads have been telling stories of time,” she said. “Our roads are creating doors, opening doors for people, and our roads in Guyana are building our nation. As our roads save time and money for the private sector, which you must know, those are two very important elements, they are helping businesses grow.”

Smith explained that many GCCI members have reported significant benefits from the country’s expanding road network, particularly in reducing travel time to reach clients on the East Coast and in Berbice. “What it has also been doing is to reduce the cost of transportation. Hence the reason they have been saving time and money,” she added.

She noted that improved infrastructure was allowing companies to reach new customers, expand their operations, and hire more staff. “Our roads are opening doors,” she said. “It might seem like something just a concrete structure, an asphalt structure that is doing nothing but reduce time, but if you think about it, it’s a holistic way of encouraging our country to grow.”

Following Smith, Capt. Gouveia Jr. praised the expo hailing it as a showcase of Guyanese creativity, skill, and ambition. He described the event as a place where “people, ideas, and partnerships” come together to shape the nation’s future through the construction industry.

As chairman of the PSC, Gouveia said he was proud of the progress being made in the private sector, noting the rise in strategic partnerships, innovation, and investment. “Events like this bring us together, and we can celebrate for businesses, they provide a platform for small, medium and large companies to showcase their work,” he said adding, “They encourage innovation, healthy competition and the formation of consortiums that can take on larger and more complex projects for the citizens.”

He highlighted how the expo connects citizens directly with builders, suppliers, financiers, and those introducing the latest technologies and competitive pricing, making home ownership more accessible and affordable. He also emphasised its role in inspiring young people to pursue careers in construction, engineering, and entrepreneurship. “It’s also an opportunity that we can inspire our young people to explore careers in construction, engineering and entrepreneurship and for the economy,” he added.

Turning to economic impact, Gouveia said every partnership formed and project launched strengthens Guyana’s economy. “These connections are creating jobs. They’re supporting local manufacturing, and they’re creating more value circulating here in Guyana, in the private sector, we’re proud to support initiatives,” he told the audience.

He also spoke about the PSC’s collaboration with the Inter-American Development Bank to launch a Business Support Desk, offering mentorship, business planning, and access to capital. The goal, he said, is to help local businesses “grow stronger, compete effectively, and expand into new markets.”

Gouveia applauded the government for fostering a healthy investment climate, noting that the construction sector had experienced exponential growth in recent years. He pointed to the increasing capacity of Guyanese companies to take on large, complex. State of the art projects, as well as a surge in new entrepreneurs engaged in both industrial and residential construction.

“These opportunities have multiplied, ranging from infrastructure projects, residential, commercial projects, and our private sector has risen to meet this demand through skill, creativity, determination and partnerships,” he said, adding that the momentum proved growth was inevitable when the right conditions were in place.

He also commended those who had taken risks to contribute to the housing and construction boom, urging attendees to use the expo as a starting point for future projects, partnerships, and ventures. “This expo demonstrates the strength that we have as a Guyanese people,” Gouveia said. “We are not only building a better Guyana, brick by brick, business by business, we are creating a society where prosperity is shared and opportunity and wealth is in reach of all.”

The Building Expo 2025 is slated to continue over the course of the next three days, coming to an end on Sunday, August 17. This year’s expo has a total of 389 booths, 29 of which belong to international companies.

Building Expo 2025 is a key platform for industry stakeholders and everyday Guyanese alike, to network, learn about new technologies, and explore new and emerging ways for both home and land ownership.