-eyes bigger targets for this year, plans to roll out new Youthpreneur, tertiary awards to empower young entrepreneurs

THE Small Business Bureau (SBB) has exceeded a number of its 2025 targets, training over 3,200 small businesses and disbursing $280 million in loans, including support for persons with disabilities.

As 2026 begins, the SBB is setting its sights higher, aiming to ramp up its loan distribution and expand practical, hands-on training programmes for youth and emerging entrepreneurs.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Chief Executive Officer of the SBB, Mohamed Ibrahim, highlighted that one of the bureau’s major focuses for 2025 was capacity building. An original goal of training 3,000 Guyanese was set early last year; however, as 2026 begins, the bureau has surpassed that goal, with more than 3,200 entrepreneurs receiving capacity-building training across a wide range of business and financial management areas.

“Our main milestone was a target of training 3,000 small businesses, and we have achieved and surpassed that target. In 2025, we were able to train 3,234 small businesses. These are in a variety of training programmes, which include our Small Business Management programme, our Financial Management and Recordkeeping programme, our Marketing training programme, as well as Digital Readiness and our Online Marketplace,” he stated.

The bureau has also made strides in loan distribution, with more than 60 loans worth over $280 million. Ibrahim noted about 50 per cent of these loans were given to persons with disabilities.

“We did 64 loans at the value of $280 million. We also have a disability loans programme where people with any type of disability, with a letter from the Ministry of Human Services, can access a loan of up to $500,000 interest-free and collateral-free. That was 32 loans from the disability programme and 32 regular loans. This is a milestone we plan to surpass,” he said adding, “One of the good things about this year, we did quite a few small loans compared to just the bigger ones. We hope to surpass that this year. The government is also doing the Small Business Development Bank, so we are waiting to see how that unfolds.”

While the bureau currently offers programmes focused on financial literacy, digital marketing, and product development, its 2026 focus is on making these programmes more hands-on and practical.

“Our 2026 focus is on re-energising our training programmes to be more practical,” he shared. “For example, our financial management and record-keeping programme. Instead of having participants just sit in a classroom, we are actually having them develop a cash book personalised for themselves, create a ledger personalised for themselves. So, when they leave, they have something tangible to take away, and not just information.”

Moreover, the bureau is spearheading entirely new initiatives with a focus on youth-led businesses. As Ibrahim explained, these programmes target students leaving high school as well as those in tertiary institutions. “We have two new programmes coming up in 2026, our Youthpreneur and our Tertiary Education Award. The Youthpreneur recognises that many students are leaving school, some going to university, some entering the workforce. We want to train them on the basics of running a small business, including taxation, compiling records, and small business operations,” he said.

“The Tertiary Education Award is for students in tertiary institutions, universities, and technical schools. Many of them are doing business training and want to start a business but don’t have practical financing. This award allows them to come up with a business plan, and we will give them a grant to help start or co-start that business.”

Moving forward, Ibrahim expressed that the bureau would continue its work in training through community-led initiatives, ensuring that small businesses across Guyana receive the support needed to thrive.

With ambitious goals for 2026, the SBB aims to continue its work as a key driver of entrepreneurship, youth development, and financial empowerment in Guyana’s growing business landscape.