-message comes as Guyana observes National Quality Week, 2025

MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, has once again underscored the importance of partnerships in driving Guyana’s development, highlighting that collaboration and adherence to standards are key to achieving the nation’s long-term sustainable goals.

Her message came as Guyana joins the rest of the world in observing National Quality Week, 2025, an annual celebration dedicated to promoting quality and standards across industries.

The observance coincides with World Standards Day, which will be celebrated on October 14 under the theme, “A Shared Vision for a Better World: Spotlight on SDG 17.” This year’s theme focuses on establishing partnerships, one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which emphasises the need for collaboration among governments, private sectors, and civil society to achieve sustainable progress.

In a statement released by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Sunday, Minister Rodrigues said the focus on partnerships is particularly important for Guyana as the country continues its rapid transformation across multiple sectors.

“Our strength lies in collaboration, and it is essential that we seize every opportunity that can produce positive outcomes for our country’s growth,” she said, adding, “We must also make full use of all available tools, including national and international standards, as common references for achieving quality, ensuring consistency, and securing market access for our products, both at home and abroad.”

The minister reaffirmed the commitment of the Government of Guyana to fostering partnerships that support the nation’s growth and the achievement of the SDGs by 2030.

She said that effective partnerships, whether between businesses, industries, or governments, are vital in addressing challenges and creating opportunities for development. “The collaborations and partnerships we form must continue to grow more food to alleviate hunger, ensure responsible consumption and production, advance industry, innovation, and infrastructure, and provide access to affordable and clean energy, clean water, sanitation, and more,” Minister Rodrigues said.

She also highlighted the importance of National Quality Week as a reminder of the role standards play in national development.

The week’s activities, organised by the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), will showcase the services and initiatives that promote quality assurance in products, services, and systems across the country.

According to Minister Rodrigues, the GNBS continues to play a critical role in guiding local businesses toward implementing and maintaining quality systems that not only improve competitiveness, but also build consumers’ trust.

“The activities of this week place the spotlight on the standards and services offered by the GNBS and bring to the fore a measure of how far we have come as a nation in valuing quality,” she said.

She commended businesses that have successfully aligned their operations with standards, noting that their achievements highlight the benefits of partnership. “As the Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, I want to particularly congratulate those businesses which continue to realise success, because they have implemented and are maintaining the requirements of standards,” the minister stated.

She further encouraged other business owners and entrepreneurs to build partnerships with the GNBS and among themselves to strengthen their operations and expand into new markets. “I urge these and other business owners to partner with the GNBS, even as they partner among themselves to achieve more,” she said.

Minister Rodrigues noted that as Guyana’s economy continues to grow, maintaining a strong culture of quality will be essential to ensuring sustainable progress.

She added that the observance of National Quality Week serves not only as a celebration of achievements, but also as a reminder of the collective responsibility to uphold high standards across every sector.

“As a nation, and a member of the United Nations, achieving the sustainable development goals by 2030 remains a top priority,” she affirmed.