Advancing standards & economic future

Guyana’s rapid economic transformation demands a parallel strengthening of the systems that underpin competitiveness, reliability, and sustainable development. The announcement of a forthcoming National Quality Policy, currently being crafted through collaboration between the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and the Guyana National Bureau of Standards (GNBS), signals a decisive and strategic step toward embedding quality as a national value. Such an initiative is foundational to shaping a modern economy capable of thriving in global markets.
The fifth National Quality Awards underscored the growing recognition of standards across industries. More than 35 awards were presented this year, reflecting an expanding base of enterprises that view quality not as an optional enhancement but as a necessary tool for survival and advancement. The growth from 16 original participants to over 100 eligible contenders today represent more than increased interest. It illustrates a cultural shift within the business community, one that recognises that structured systems, standardised processes, and measurable quality benchmarks are indispensable to becoming globally competitive.
The timing of this momentum is particularly consequential. Guyana is entering an era defined by heightened international partnerships, diversified investment streams, and expanding regional linkages. These undertakings require a national framework that assures consistency, safety, and reliability in both goods and services. A quality policy, therefore, is central to aligning national development with the goals of a diversified, sustainable, and innovation-driven economy envisioned in the country’s long-term strategic agenda.
Its integration of priority sectors, including agriculture, agro-processing, aquaculture, forestry, tourism, and manufacturing, signals a deliberate effort to strengthen the very industries expected to anchor the non-oil economy. Each of these sectors faces global competition, stringent export requirements, and evolving technological demands. Without robust quality infrastructure, including certification, metrology, testing, and verification systems, these industries risk stagnation or exclusion from lucrative markets.
The GNBS, through its expanded services and its role in developing standards and enforcement mechanisms, remains central to this evolution. Its ongoing collaboration with regional and international bodies such as CROSQ and the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation ensures that Guyana’s standardisation efforts remain aligned with global best practices. The national standardisation strategy for 2026–2028, focusing on competitiveness and digital transformation, provides additional structure to guide the country’s quality architecture in the medium term.
Yet, standards and policies alone do not guarantee success. The enabling environment within which businesses operate must match the aspirations laid out in national frameworks. Prime Minister Brigadier (ret’d) Mark Phillips rightly emphasised that internal quality systems at the firm level must be complemented by external conditions conducive to growth. Regulatory efficiency, access to financing, technological support, and infrastructural readiness all form part of the ecosystem required to nurture competitive enterprises.
The planned establishment of a zero-interest development bank next year demonstrates an understanding that small and micro-enterprises must be equipped to meet rising standards. Affordable financing can allow these businesses to invest in certification, improved equipment, training, and compliance systems. Without such support, many would struggle to meet the demands of export markets or large-scale supply chains.
A diversified economy, which remains a key national objective, is possible only when businesses can demonstrate reliability and consistency on par with regional and international competitors. As Guyana’s development accelerates, opportunities will expand across industries such as ICT, hospitality, manufacturing, and agriculture. However, accessibility to these opportunities will hinge on the ability to meet established quality and safety requirements. Markets both regionally and internationally are unforgiving when it comes to non-compliance, and certification increasingly determines whether companies can even enter certain jurisdictions.
Therefore, the push for quality must be viewed as an economic imperative.
The development of a National Quality Policy must serve as a catalyst to strengthen the national quality infrastructure, deepen industry capabilities, and reinforce a culture of excellence.