-highlights gains in laboratory accreditation, business competitiveness
THE Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS) on Monday hosted the government-supported Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) NQI Project Completion Exit Workshop.
Delivering remarks on behalf of the Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Susan Rodrigues, Permanent Secretary Roger Rogers said that as Guyana continues to expand its economy and create new opportunities, investments, and enterprises, we must ensure that our institutions, infrastructure, and support systems develop alongside it.
He emphasised that economic growth must be matched by the capacity to produce quality goods and services, meet recognised standards, and compete effectively in increasingly demanding markets. Rogers noted that this is why the NQI project has been important to Guyana’s development, and why its completion is an opportunity to not only recognise what has been achieved, but also to consider how we build on that investment.
The IDB NQI project commenced in 2016 and represented a significant investment, with financial support from the IDB. It was designed to address long-standing gaps in Guyana’s national quality infrastructure, including laboratory facilities, equipment, technical expertise, and international accreditation, while also strengthening the capacity of the GNBS and other institutions.
The central objective which is to strengthen the system that enables businesses to improve quality, protect consumers, and contribute to a more diversified and competitive economy, remains important despite the challenges.
Rogers related that while the oil and gas sector continues to generate a large number of opportunities, we must also strengthen the productive capacity of the non-oil sectors and ensure that businesses in Guyana are positioned to benefit from the nation’s developments.
“Our manufacturers, agro-processors, construction companies, and other enterprises must be able to demonstrate that their products and services meet the required standards,” he said, explaining that “For those seeking to export, this can determine where they gain access to new markets. For those serving the domestic markets, it can strengthen consumer confidence and help them compete more effectively. This is particularly important for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises. These businesses are an essential part of our economic development, but they often face greater challenges in accessing technical expertise, improving production systems, and improving certification requirements.
Rogers stated that we cannot expect local businesses to successfully compete without first ensuring that the necessary support systems are available to them.
He pointed out that quality infrastructure is not simply a technical matter, but an important part of creating conditions for businesses to grow, improve their products, and pursue new opportunities.
The NQI project has helped to strengthen both conditions, revealing the numbers, Rogers said noting that its evaluation found that most output-level targets were fully achieved or exceeded, including the accreditation of five laboratories, construction of a new laboratory facility, development of a national quality policy framework, the delivery of training and capacity-building activities, and improvements in the GNBS’s institutional capacity.
Meanwhile, IDB’s Chief of Operations, Ivan Gavira underscored that the most tangible achievements through this project went beyond physical infrastructure. The NQI Project has contributed to advancements in institutional capacity and service delivery. Through the GNBS, five laboratories have been accredited, further strengthening Guyana’s capacity to provide quality-assured testing and measurement services. Additionally, 60 firms were trained in preparation for certification and 63 women-led businesses or firms with at least 80 per cent women employees received certification.
Approximately, 230 per cent growth was seen in industrial metrology services between 2019 and 2025 reflecting expanded delivery of measurements and calibration services.
“The achievements demonstrated in the project’s contribution extends beyond physical infrastructure to strengthening institutional capabilities and services, underpinning and supporting not only the NQI, but its continued growth and use,” Gavira said.
He further said that the completion of this project represents an important milestone in the IDB’s partnership with the Government of Guyana and demonstrates the value of sustained collaboration and hard work in addressing constraints to private sector development.
