EARLIER this month, the Suriname Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) elected its executive officers for the 2026-2027 term, an action that signalled renewed commitment to deeper bilateral trade, and private sector collaboration between the two countries.

The SGCC was founded in 2022 on a shared vision of economic co-operation between Suriname and Guyana, a groundbreaking collaboration that is championed by key government figures from both nations.

The Chamber’s aim is to strengthen economic ties between Suriname and Guyana and to set a new standard for regional co-operation.

In an exclusive interview, newly appointed chair, Mark Sookhai, discussed the priorities of the Chamber for its 2026-2027 term.

He mentioned the fourth edition of the Chamber’s International Business Conference (IBC) slated to be held in Suriname later this year, which is among key areas that will enhance trade and support efforts between Suriname and Guyana.

He told this publication that the Chamber was born out of a need to address challenges that arise when persons in each country are doing business in the other.

He posited that while we are all neighbours, we must recognise our cultural differences and distinct business practices.”

As part of its onboarding exercise, the Chamber gives new members access to a range of areas that are critical for them to conduct business in Guyana or Suriname.

It was said that because Suriname is going to be announcing its local content this year, one of the main goals of the Chamber is to ensure that Guyanese businesses that have gained capacity and are ready to expand, are aware of what is happening in Suriname and the opportunities that are available.

Another area of focus is the trade mission between Trinidad, Guyana, and Suriname, that is slated for June this year. It is expected that members of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA) would visit Guyana and Suriname with the aim of increasing the number of distributors, tapping into available markets, and looking at how they can improve their current supply chain, or even source materials and other items from Suriname and Guyana.

This will be the second year the SGCC is hosting the Trade Mission on behalf of the TTMA.

For last year’s edition, the Chamber facilitated more than 300 meetings for participants from Guyana and Suriname.

Reports indicate that as of July/August 2025, upwards of US$300 million in deals were assigned or in the works for participants because of that mission.

The Chamber also announced the upcoming Suriname Energy Conference, which is coming into its fifth edition this year.

During the conference, a number of partnerships are expected to be formed from conversations between businesses, which will lead to joint ventures, and distributor relations.

The Suriname Guyana Chamber usually takes approximately 60 companies to Suriname for this.

The Suriname Energy Conference allows companies to not only exhibit their products but also secure a number of ‘B2B’ meetings.

Sookhai had mentioned that the primary focus for the Chamber is its B2B meetings in each event it hosts.

“That’s what is the icing on the cake for us, because that’s where business actually gets done. We enable one business to sit and meet with another in a private room, private conversation, to really talk about what they can give to each other, how they can facilitate business between their countries or their businesses, Guyana and Suriname, and, to some extent, Trinidad as well, for the TTMA trade mission. So that’s always our priority for any of the events that we do or that we participate in,” he said.

Aside from this, Sookhai shared that it is public knowledge that Guyana is on a path that is unprecedented in the global economy. He highlighted that similarly, Suriname is headed in a similar direction. He said both countries will experience significant growth.

He expressed that one of the things that the Chamber wants to ensure is that it facilitates as many opportunities as it can for members or persons that it will represent, so that they too can have the opportunity to benefit from initiatives in Guyana and Suriname.

“We are bigger together as a Chamber to make an impact and to advocate and to ensure that opportunities are given to members, whether in Suriname and Guyana and we continue to strive for that,” Sookhai expressed.