— President Ali says, outlines organisational structure of Guyana’s upcoming development bank
—says structural support mechanisms built to incentivise growth

ESTABLISHED with structured support mechanisms to incentivise growth, the soon to be launched Guyana Development Bank is geared towards building prosperity, enhancing income, empowering people, creating new businesses, and supporting small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs).
This is according to President Dr. Irfaan Ali, who on Wednesday outlined the organisational structure of the financial institution.
From on the ground to credit officers to sector specialist, persons seeking loans will have guidance in building long term income.
“The Development Bank is about creating strategies at the individual and small business level that allows Guyanese to win, prosper, and succeed,” the President said adding:
“The strategy has to be one [that is] sustainable and resilient, one that allows you to build an enterprise that would not last two weeks a year or two years, but an enterprise that would last a very long time, one that will continue to grow, one that will expand itself, and the development bank offers that seed, that important seed that would allow your ideas, your strategy, your plans to germinate.”
Already legislation for the bank’s operationalisation has been tabled in the National Assembly, under the bill, the Guyana Development Bank will provide SMEs and aspiring entrepreneurs with access to micro-credit loans of up to $3 million at a zero per cent interest rate.
The President noted that for the Peoples Progressive Party/Civic administration the bank’s establishment is more than a manifesto promise being delivered but is a key pillar in an ecosystem being built to ensure that all Guyanese can access financial security.
“The Development Bank is not you know, making a quick spin or quick turnover or a quick transaction. That is not the strategy of the development bank,” he cautioned adding:
“It is well thought out, that is why it has support mechanism and also a mechanism built in in the organizational structure to allow you to grow to incentivize the growth and development of your business from where you will start.”
He noted that while the government is doing its part in making such opportunities accessible, budding entrepreneurs must also put in the work.

“It will require you to put in the time, work hard. There is no easy way out. Nothing comes with a layback approach; success comes with hard work.”
He noted that building a successful business strategy will require sacrifice, commitment and immense patience.
“You can’t expect take a loan today, although it’s interest free and collateral free, and the next day you will double it. You have to be patient about your investment,” he said making direct appeal to potential beneficiaries.
“Small businesses require dedicated time, not delegated time, dedicated time by the small business owner themselves. You can’t believe you’ve arrived because you’re now developing a business and believe you can delegate the responsibilities of running that business. You have to at inception, dedicate your time, your energy, your patience, [and] your value system have to reflect a positive mindset for success,” the President stressed.
ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE
Further outlining the institution’s structure, he noted that there will be a seamless approach to bridging ideas with longevity, resilience, and sustainability.
“We are building an ecosystem that would almost guarantee success, an ecosystem that is there to hold your hands, to support you, to guide you, to anchor your investment, to advise you on further enhancement and development to integrate you when the times comes with the commercial bank,” he explained.
With a focus on continuous support, he noted that persons will have support from credits officers who will be fanned out across the country
“These credit officers will be in the field, working with you, helping you in the development of your ID, checking on projects, supporting the framework of what you’re trying to achieve, so the credit officer job is to facilitate the application process,” he noted.
Further support will be provided by sector specialists, facilitators and clusters to support consortiums.
“Let us say we go to an area, and you have 10 persons interested in pig farming, then you bring them together in a cluster. The cluster is then supported by facilitator. It’s supported through mentorship,” he added.
Simply put the bank will operate through a bottom‑up, field‑driven structure anchored by a board and chief executive officer at the top, and regional credit officers on the ground who work directly with applicants to shape ideas, process interest‑free, collateral‑free loans and monitor projects.
These officers are supported by regional facilitators who organise clusters of similar businesses, deliver financial literacy and basic management training, and link borrowers to wider government support.
He explained that as business grow, sector specialists and technical officers’ step in to right‑size investments, provide technical advice and prepare projects for expansion with commercial banks, ensuring a continuous pipeline of support from start‑up through to larger‑scale operations, even after the initial loan is repaid.