Strengthening its institutional capacity
The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) yesterday inked a five year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Canadian Executive Service Organisation (CESO) to strengthen its institutional capacity.

Speaking at the signing at Swansea Industrial Associates on Waterloo Streets, Georgetown, CESO lead volunteer consultant Mr. Rory Campbell said the agreement also includes the provision of advisory services to individual businesses and clusters, and joint responsibility for monitoring and evaluation of this partnership.

He said the MOU entails several Canadian experts sharing their assistance in areas relevant to Guyana’s economy.

Campbell reported that an assessment on the work of the exchange programme which involves GMSA companies will be done in the next two or three years.

The consultant pointed out that apart from the manufacturing enterprise, his company is also looking at ventures in the tourism sector.

All the CESO projects are funded by the Canadian Agency for International Development (CIDA).

GMSA President Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo, in brief remarks, commented that the partnership will bring a sense of economic well-being to his association, its members and Guyana as a whole.

He said it will open up an avenue of opportunities for the new sectors of the GSMA and develop companies to identify trade and investment opportunities to boost their performance.

GMSA International Trade and Investment Committee Chairman Mr. Neil Fraser lauded the CESO partnership and stressed that it paves the way for the provision of much needed quality services to the GMSA membership in light of a storage of human resources.

He said that the GMSA is tasked with satisfying a host of requests from its members; and to meet these commitments, his organisation either has to look for internal help or external support.

In this regard, the collaboration with CESO will be of great benefit in fulfilling these requests, in addition to aiding the GMSA to accomplish the goals of its five year strategic plan.

Fraser noted that extensive focus will be placed on the agriculture sector which has the requisite infrastructure in place, mainly through the assistance of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

He said efforts will also be made in the wood industry to capture new markets in light of the global economic slow-down.

Apart from the terms of the agreement, Fraser disclosed that the use of tariff as a barrier to trade by some countries in the region is an issue which the GMSA is pushing to have urgently addressed.

According to the agreement, the GMSA will provide an increased reach and access to its members within several areas, including, agro-processing, forestry and wood products, fast food, construction and engineering, chemical and pharmaceuticals, and the service sector.

The GMSA is the leading private sector association in Guyana representing the manufacturing and services industries.

It represents 103 members, including companies involved in agro-processing, forestry value- added, garment and textile, construction engineering, printing and packaging, chemicals and pharmaceuticals.

The representative organisation provides leadership and institutional capacity for the initiation and advocacy of policies geared to improve productivity and sector competitiveness in manufacturing and related areas.

The GMSA also aims to enhance its membership satisfaction through the application of professional services and encouraging due regard for business ethics, human rights and the environment.

CESO is a not-for-profit volunteer cooperation organisation whose mission is to contribute to development by building capacity in governance and economic development through the transfer of knowledge and skills.