Expanding frontiers of entrepreneurship

The announcement by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) of its soon-to-be-commissioned Micro and Women Entrepreneur Learning Centre represents a critical step in strengthening Guyana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. In a nation undergoing rapid economic transformation, such initiatives ensure that growth is not limited to large-scale industries but extends to the micro and small enterprises that form the backbone of the domestic economy. The initiative, unveiled by GCCI President Kathy Smith during the launch of GuyExpo 2025, arrives at a time when the discourse on diversification has become increasingly urgent. Guyana’s economy, buoyed by oil revenues, must simultaneously cultivate a parallel path of resilience by supporting sectors such as agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, and services. Entrepreneurship and innovation, the central theme of this year’s GuyExpo, are more than catchphrases, they are the strategic pillars required to safeguard long-term sustainability.
The forthcoming learning centre, developed in partnership with the World University Service of Canada and supported by Global Affairs Canada, is an investment in empowerment, particularly for women entrepreneurs who dominate the agro-processing sector but face systemic challenges in scaling their operations. The reality highlighted by Smith is instructive while women across Guyana are adept at farming, harvesting, and marketing, they often struggle to convert excess produce into viable export-ready products. The learning centre aims to fill this gap by providing the technical knowledge and business acumen required to transform surplus into packaged goods that can reach regional and international markets.
This is a crucial intervention. Agro-processing remains one of the most underutilised avenues of wealth creation in Guyana. Every year, tonnes of fruits, vegetables, and other agricultural products go to waste due to inadequate storage, lack of value-added processing, and limited access to overseas buyers. A structured programme that equips entrepreneurs with the skills to bottle, package, and brand these products can simultaneously reduce post-harvest losses, increase household incomes, and strengthen Guyana’s reputation in global markets.
Yet, the centre’s significance extends beyond agro-processing. By building capacity among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), it provides a platform for innovation across multiple industries. Whether through aquaculture, small-scale manufacturing, or service delivery, MSMEs play a decisive role in employment generation and community development. The training to be provided, ranging from product development to marketing and networking ensures that entrepreneurs are not only equipped to compete locally but are positioned to expand regionally and internationally. Equally important is the platform offered by GuyExpo 2025. As Smith underscored, the exposition is not a sales event but rathwr a marketplace of ideas and partnerships. Exhibitors must view it as an opportunity to showcase creativity, build networks, and establish enduring collaborations with government agencies, corporate partners, and potential investors. For an economy at a crossroads, the ability to foster meaningful linkages between sectors is indispensable.
The Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce must also be credited for sustaining the momentum of enterprise support. The delicate balance between oil and gas expansion and the diversification of other industries is a challenge that requires constant attention. An overreliance on hydrocarbons, while lucrative in the short term, poses risks of volatility. By strengthening MSMEs and encouraging agro-processing, Guyana mitigates these risks while ensuring broader participation in national prosperity.
What is emerging, therefore, is a holistic framework for entrepreneurship. It is also about financing or technical assistance, while cultivating a mindset of innovation and resilience. When entrepreneurs are encouraged to think beyond immediate sales and to view business as a process of value creation, the entire economy benefits. The GCCI’s initiative adds an essential piece to this puzzle, reinforcing the culture of enterprise and ensuring that women and micro-entrepreneurs are not left behind.
This effort must, however, be met with complementary policy measures.
At the same time, entrepreneurs themselves must embrace a vision that looks beyond immediate markets. As Smith highlighted, the focus must be on capturing attention, networking, and seizing opportunities to expand reach. The pathway to growth lies in professionalising operations, ensuring quality standards, and competing with confidence in international arenas.
Guyana’s economic transformation is already well underway, but its long-term sustainability depends on inclusive development. Oil may dominate the present, but the future lies in a diversified economy where agriculture, manufacturing, services, and innovation coalesce to form a resilient whole. The GCCI’s Micro and Women Entrepreneur Learning Centre is a timely intervention and will compliment many of the initiatives and programs that Government has already started.
As Guyana continues its trajectory of growth, entrepreneurship must not remain confined to rhetoric. It must be supported.