GGI, TCG launches “Mango Madness” Project in Region 9

The Greater Guyana Initiative (GGI), in partnership with The Consultancy Group (TCG) officially launched the Hinterland Social Enterprise through Fresh Fruits Value Added Production “Mango Madness” Project at Manari Ranch, Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo) on March 7, 2025.
Mango Madness is more than just mangoes. This project provides an opportunity for broad-based socio-economic development in Region Nine (Upper Takutu-Upper Essequibo), by laying the foundation for wider social enterprise that converts fresh fruit into household income, thereby creating communal marketing opportunities for fruits, to maximise benefits to residents through suitable value addition technologies.
This multi-faceted project included the establishment of an agro-processing facility designed to transform the surplus of fresh fruits—including mangoes, jamoons, cashews, and citrus—into value-added products such as jams, dried fruits, juices and concentrates for drink mixes. The project will also create opportunities for job creation, particularly for hinterland women, while reducing fruit wastage and promoting sustainability.

In his opening remarks, Yusuf Abraham, TCG’s Project Manager, highlighted the initiative’s broader significance of transforming an abundance of natural resources into valuable high-quality products derived from the region.
Regional Chairman of Region Nine, Bryan Allicock, in his address highlighted the importance of the initiative in strengthening the Region’s agro-processing capability, saying that the region has the opportunity to create high-quality products that will benefit its communities.
He further expressed his gratitude to GGI and TCG for conceptualising a project which capitalises on the marketability of the diverse resources within the region, thereby bringing value to communities.
GGI Lead, Alicia Bess-Anderson, emphasised the importance of the GGI -TCG partnership in identifying opportunities to utilise the abundance of natural resources in Region Nine to benefit communities, which she explained is in keeping with GGI’s mandate to contribute to Guyana’s sustainable development.
“We can’t wait to return to see the progress made and the impact on yourself, your communities, and the region at large,” she told the community present.
The Mango Madness Project is one of several GGI funded initiatives being executed in Region Nine. Other initiatives include The Hinterland Poultry ‘Egg Sandwich’ Project, which is strengthening local poultry production, and the Empowering Communities: Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Education and Screening Project, which will aid in reducing the prevalence of HPV-related diseases in Guyana’s Indigenous and Under-resourced communities.
The GGI is a US$100 million investment by the Stabroek Block Co-Venturers – ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited, to build capacity across Guyana, demonstrating their commitment to Guyana’s development beyond their investment in the Oil and Gas Sector.