THE Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) is celebrating its 40th anniversary as a non-governmental, non-profit institution that helps people to help themselves.
On Thursday and Friday, the institution hosted its Business Expo on Main Street, Georgetown. Preparations are in full swing for its Business Conference, slated for March 26 and March 27, 2026, at the Pegasus Corporate Centre.
Participating in the Business Expo were IPED’s clients who are involved in agro-processing, cosmetics, health and wellness, and clothing.
Speaking at the launch ceremony, IPED’s Chief Executive Officer, Jagdesh Haripershad, said this marks a milestone in a 40-year journey of empowering people, building businesses, and transforming lives across Guyana.
Haripershad stated that over the past four decades, IPED has stood as a pillar of support for entrepreneurs, especially those who aspire to start small but dream big.
Sharing a brief history, the CEO said that from its humble beginnings in 1986, IPED has grown into a national institution that has supported thousands and contributed meaningfully to Guyana’s economic development.
“But today is not just about looking back. Today is about showcasing impact. This exhibition brings together 25 of our clients out of our over 5,000 clients across Guyana. Real people, real businesses, real success stories,” he said.
According to the CEO, each booth represents resilience, innovation, and the power of opportunity when support meets ambition.
He said that as Guyana continues to experience rapid economic growth, IPED remains committed to ensuring that no one is left behind. Its focus is clear: to expand access to financing, to support small and micro enterprises, to innovate through new products and digital transformation, and to empower its clients to participate fully in Guyana’s evolving economy.
Also addressing the gathering was the Director of Commerce at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Safrana Cameron-Baird, who said that in reflecting on IPED’s theme for the expo, ‘A Legacy of Empowerment 40 Years of Strengthening Enterprises, Transforming Lives, and Supporting National Development,’ it becomes clear that this is a story of impact.
“For 40 years, IPED has stood as a pillar of support for small business. It operated for 25 years without the benefit of an oil-driven economy. So long before Guyana’s recent economic transformation, IPED remained resilient in its mission to empower small and medium-sized enterprises,” she said, adding that this is a remarkable achievement that is deserving of recognition.
IPED has given thousands the tools, confidence and support to transform their ideas into viable businesses, working with a diverse group of business owners, from rice farmers to fishermen, planters, small shop owners, and many others.
Further, she said that strengthening enterprises and transforming lives reminds us that businesses are more than economic units. According to her, businesses represent people, families and communities.
Each small business supported by IPED is a family uplifted, a job created, and more than that, a community is strengthened.
Highlighting the growth of many of the businesses, Cameron-Baird said that the final part of the theme highlights IPED’s role in aiding in national development, underscoring how collective efforts of the government and the private sector, continue to drive small-business development across Guyana.
The Government of Guyana through its efforts to promote entrepreneurship, strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and build a more inclusive and diversified economy, is creating the conditions necessary for our businesses to grow and succeed, she said.
She noted that at the ministry there is a strong emphasis on small-business development in Guyana, highlighting that they are the backbone of economic resilience and are essential to building a strong and diversified economy.
