THE Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) has officially commissioned its Micro and Women Entrepreneur Learning Centre, a pioneering facility aimed at empowering small business owners, particularly women-led enterprises and farmers, through training, mentorship, and capacity-building initiatives.
The Centre, located on the middle floor of the GCCI’s headquarters at Waterloo Street, was commissioned on Tuesday and represents a significant step in promoting inclusive economic growth and entrepreneurship in Guyana.
Developed in collaboration with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and funded by Global Affairs Canada, the facility features a training room, boardroom, and offices for technical officers who will provide beneficiaries with a range of services, from business development and marketing to financial education, proposal writing, and compliance support.
INCLUSION AND EMPOWERMENT
In her remarks, GCCI President, Kathy Smith, described the Centre as “a bold idea built on the foundation of a strong desire to see micro and women-led businesses, as well as farmers, thrive and develop sustainably.”

“This facility represents an opportunity—an opportunity for MSMEs in Guyana to access invaluable training and information,” Smith emphasised. “And I am not speaking of just members of the GCCI. Any woman entrepreneur or farmer can walk up these stairs and access our portfolio of services and support.”
Donald Cole, WUSC Country Coordinator for the Sustainable Agriculture in the Caribbean Project, underscored the longstanding partnership between the GCCI, WUSC, and the Ministry of Agriculture, which has given rise to initiatives like Guyana Agri Connect and the Agriculture Symposium.
“The Centre being opened here today is a practical next step in that journey,” Cole said. “It offers training in business fundamentals, digital tools, food security, food safety, and sustainable production. It is also a place to test products, showcase them, and meet buyers and service providers.”
CANADA APPLAUDS PRIVATE SECTOR LEADERSHIP
Representing the High Commission of Canada, Head of Cooperation, Adam Loyer, praised the GCCI for investing in the future of Guyana’s entrepreneurs and agricultural sector.
“Through this initiative, the GCCI is demonstrating how the private sector and civil society can serve as catalysts for inclusive development, bringing together farmers, buyers, service providers, and financiers into one ecosystem,” Loyer remarked, encouraging continued collaboration among stakeholders.
In his feature address, Minister of Agriculture, Zulfikar Mustapha, commended the GCCI for its leadership and said the Centre stands as “a beacon of opportunity for empowerment and innovation.”
“This Learning Centre is more than just a physical space—it is a space of potential, a space where ideas can become enterprises and enterprises can become engines of sustainable growth for our nation,” the Minister stated.
He noted that women currently represent 33 percent of Guyana’s farmers, and the government’s goal is to have 50 percent of new agriculture ventures led by women and youth by 2030.
“By fostering collaboration and continuous learning, this Centre will help ensure that our agriculture and business sectors grow together, strengthening food security, supporting job creation, and expanding private sector development,” Mustapha added.
Brian Edwards, GCCI’s Junior Vice President and Chair of its Agriculture Committee, described the Centre as a catalyst for transformative change.
“This initiative embraced the Inclusive Market Systems approach, which challenges us to go beyond quick fixes and instead address the barriers of market exclusion and fragmentation,” Edwards explained. “True transformation requires a foundation—a starting point that creates enabling conditions for systemic change.”
The development of the Learning Centre was made possible through contributions from several private-sector partners, including Metro Office and Computer Supplies, Giftland OfficeMax, AdNation Guyana, Lodestar Inc., Pinnacle Solutions Inc., Dynotech Construction Chemicals Inc., Green State Oil and Gas Services Inc., Guyana Payroll Solutions Inc., Comfort Sleep, Brava, Professional Print and Design, Unicomer Guyana Inc., J.R.P Contracting Services, and ExxonMobil Guyana.
With its commissioning, the Micro and Women Entrepreneur Learning Centre marks a transformative step in Guyana’s drive to create a more inclusive and resilient business environment—one where women, small business owners, and farmers have the resources and support to lead the country’s next wave of innovation and growth.