–GCCI President says, highlights surge in membership
PRESIDENT of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Kathy Smith, has reported a strong year of growth and financial recovery for the organisation, highlighting its expanding role in Guyana’s rapidly transforming economy.
Addressing members at the Chamber’s annual general meeting last week, Smith said it has been her “distinct honour” to serve as president for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, as the GCCI intensifies its advocacy and support for the private sector amid sweeping economic modernisation. She has since been re-elected for a second term.
She noted that the Chamber’s relevance was “more pertinent now than ever” as Guyana is experiences a trajectory of modernisation in all aspects of its economy.
Over the last fiscal year, 79 new members joined the GCCI, reflecting growing confidence from local businesses in the Chamber’s work and in the opportunities emerging across the country.
“Over the last fiscal year, we have 79 new members joined the Chamber,” she said noting that this reflects the wide range of local businesses.
Smith emphasised that the GCCI continued to pride itself on providing a platform of nurturing and support for businesses, particularly micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), which form the backbone of the local private sector.
In a marked financial turnaround, Smith reported that the GCCI recorded a surplus of $5.5 million for 2025, compared to a deficit of $1.4 million in 2024.
She explained that the previous year’s deficit had been driven largely by a bad debt write-off of $7.3 million. In response, the Chamber implemented stronger accounts receivable management practices in 2025, which led to a substantial reduction in debt write-offs by approximately 102 per cent, or $3.7 million.
“This turn over reflects the the Chamber’s continued focus on strengthening its financial management and operational efficiency,” she said.
Meanwhile she noted that overall gross revenue rose from $105.86 million in 2024 to $123.71 million in 2025, an increase of $17.85 million, or 16.84 per cent.
Smith attributed this growth to strong performances across several key GCCI initiatives, which continued to serve as important platforms for engagement with the private sector.
