WTCG poised to boost local businesses’ access to global markets – Finance Minister

…praises launch as “timely and visionary step” aligned with Guyana’s economic trajectory

Local producers and entrepreneurs were on Tuesday urged to capitalise on the vast opportunities available through the newly launched World Trade Centre Georgetown (WTCG) — a first-of-its-kind development in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) that firmly positions Guyana as an emerging hub for global trade and investment. Delivering the feature address at the official launch ceremony held in High Street, Kingston, Georgetown, Finance Minister, Dr Ashni Singh, described the establishment of the WTCG as a “timely and visionary step” aligned with Guyana’s record-breaking economic trajectory and growing global footprint.

“I have said elsewhere that if you produce something in Guyana, it might be DDL (Demerara Distillers Limited). It might be that excellent Eldorado rum you sampled last few days that you’re here or it might be agricultural produce or wood products. Whatever it might be, we have said repeatedly as a Government that you must be able to load up your lorry and drive and take your goods to Suriname and Northen Brazil and indeed source raw material if you need too and move back and forth seamlessly”.
“The importance of Trade as a catalyst for continued economic growth is certainly not lost on us as a Government. In fact, quite the opposite. President Ali Government considers trade and the unlocking of trade opportunities as being the heart and soul and as being fundamental to us in ensuring continued strong economic growth going forward,” Dr Singh said. The WTCG marks a historic milestone for Guyana and the wider Caribbean. As a member of the World Trade Centre Association (WTCA), the Georgetown Centre now connects local businesses with more than 300 trade hubs across the globe, spanning over 90 countries. This network provides a direct pathway for Guyanese entrepreneurs to engage with international partners, explore export opportunities, and access global trade intelligence. It has already signed 16 Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) with international centres to support training, information sharing, and access to potential global partners, opening new possibilities for Guyana, CARICOM, and the global community to meet and develop business opportunities.
Dr Singh emphasised the urgent need for local producers to scale up operations and meet both domestic and international market demands, noting that Guyana’s rapid economic expansion has created an environment where virtually every sector, from agriculture and manufacturing to hospitality and logistics, faces unprecedented demand. The challenge now, he said, is ensuring that local businesses are equipped to respond competitively and sustainably.
“If you examine the detailed tables and the detailed projects you will see that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) continues to project Guyana as having amongst the highest rates of economic growth around the world and the highest in the western hemisphere… I am particularly pleased that DDL has taken this step to bring the World Trade Centre brand and the World Trade Centre Association to Georgetown and I trust that this facility will be used to fullness of its potential to leverage the same advantages of trade that DDL has demonstrated over the years. I trust that the rest of the Guyanese economy would leverage the vast potential of a facility such as this to realise the trade opportunities’ that lay before us,” the Finance Minister added. Similar sentiments were echoed by the Chairman of the (DDL) Group, Komal Samaroo, who noted that Centre will play a crucial role in helping Guyanese businesses charter their own course and development.

“Today I believe the importance of this centre is greater than ever before because I believe that once the global system is falling us then the need for greater bilateral relations need to take place between countries and between companies. And businesses need to chart their own course in building their markets, a process that requires knowledge, information and partners and I believe that will be the focus,” Samaroo noted. Back in July, President Dr Irfaan Ali related that the WTCG will play a pivotal role in equipping local businesses with the tools and networking opportunities needed to compete on the international stage.
He had stated that while this investment is reflective of the type of confidence that the Guyanese business community has in the country’s increasing economic growth – largely driven by its burgeoning oil and gas industry – the Head of State underscored the need to re-examine the way in which both companies and the Government are traditionally structured and managed to ensure they are agile and flexible to embrace both the challenges and the opportunities that are heading this way. Located on High Street in Georgetown, the WTCG is a state-of-the-art multi-storey building that is outfitted with advanced technologies, integrated security systems and other environmentally friendly features – all aimed at providing a modern commercial space that is critically needed in Guyana’s rapidly growing economy.