New centre to train micro, women entrepreneurs in management, marketing, food safety

A new Micro and Women Entrepreneur Learning Centre was on Tuesday launched to empower women, small business owners, and agri-entrepreneurs with training in business management, marketing, financial planning, and food safety and security. The initiative, spearheaded by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), was officially unveiled during a ceremony attended by Minister of Agriculture Zulfikar Mustapha, members of the diplomatic corps, private sector representatives, and regional partners.
The concept for the learning centre was born out of the GCCI’s ongoing partnership with the World University Service of Canada (WUSC) and funding from Global Affairs Canada, which supported numerous agricultural outreaches, workshops, and symposiums over the years. These initiatives benefited farmers and agri-processors by providing capacity building, networking, and access to critical information.
Located on the middle floor of the GCCI, the facility features a training room, boardroom, and three offices that will house technical officers who will support the beneficiaries through a wide range of services, including capacity building in areas including but not limited to business development, marketing, preparation of proposals, financial education, and compliance.
Delivering remarks at the launch, GCCI President Kathy Smith described the event as the realisation of a bold idea built on the desire to see micro- and women-led businesses, as well as farmers, thrive and develop sustainably. She said the new facility demonstrates the Chamber’s strong commitment to the development and success of Guyana’s business landscape at every level and is rooted in the spirit of collaboration and shared ambition for local businesses to flourish.
According to Smith, discussions are underway with the oil and gas industry to explore future collaborations and deliver specialised training for local entrepreneurs.
“This facility represents an opportunity, an opportunity for MSMEs in Guyana to access invaluable training and information, and I’m not speaking of just members of the GCCI. Any woman entrepreneur or farmer can walk up the stairs and access our portfolio of services and support. And I say that again, any woman entrepreneur or farmer can walk up those stairs”.
“Even as we launch this facility, the conversation has already begun with members of the oil and gas industry – who might that be? – on how we can collaborate to offer more support to the businesses through strategic training. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the force of such facility,” Smith said.
Meanwhile, Minister Mustapha, in his address, described it as a “visionary initiative” that stands as “a beacon of opportunity for empowerment and innovation.”
He noted that while agriculture has traditionally been seen as a male-dominated sector, Guyanese women have always played a pivotal role – from fieldwork to agro-processing and marketing. According to a 2022 Ministry of Agriculture survey, women account for 33 percent of Guyana’s farmers, while under the current Agricultural Diversification Strategy, 35 percent of participants are women and 30 percent are youth.
The Government’s vision, he said, is that by 2030, at least 50 per cent of newly established agribusiness ventures will be led by women and young people. To achieve this, the Ministry has been implementing inclusive programmes that foster innovation, entrepreneurship, and equal participation.
“This learning centre is more than just a physical space. It’s a space of potential, a space where ideas can become enterprises, and enterprises can become engines of sustainable growth for our nation. Although agriculture is often viewed as a labour-intensive and male-dominated field, Guyanese women over the years have always been integral to this sector, from planting and harvesting in our rice fields and sugar estate to tending kitchen gardens, rearing livestock, and running agri-processing ventures… So, this launch, or the launch of this project here this afternoon, is coinciding with the Government’s plan in modernising the infrastructure and making training opportunities available for our farmers,” Minister Mustapha said.
The Agriculture Innovation and Entrepreneurship Program has also seen significant success, with the construction of over 300 shade houses nationwide for high-demand crops such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots – more than half of which are operated by women. This programme, the Minister explained, has already reduced Guyana’s importation of these vegetables, which stood at $2.6 billion in 2021, and has enabled local producers to supply the hospitality and oil and gas sectors.
Similarly, the Hinterland Environmentally Sustainable Agriculture Development Program, valued at US$11.1 million, ensures that 50 percent of its beneficiaries are women across 243 hinterland communities. This initiative supports projects in cattle rearing, poultry, crop production, agro-processing, bakeries, and ecotourism. Additionally, the One Guyana Cut Rose Project, executed by the National Agricultural Research and Extension Institute (NAREI), has created employment for single mothers while reducing rose imports by 30 percent, with approximately 400 roses produced weekly.
According to Minister Mustapha, Guyana’s agricultural sector is undergoing tremendous transformation through record investment, climate-smart practices, and inclusive development, which aligns with the Government’s five-year agriculture plan, which aims to empower women and youth through training, start-up support, access to agritech, and market expansion.
“The Micro and Women Entrepreneurial Learning Centre will play a critical role in advancing these goals. It will provide micro- and women entrepreneurs with the skills and tools to strive, not just in agriculture, but across retail, services, and the digital economy. It will help farmers become business owners and business owners become market leaders. By fostering collaboration and continuous learning, this centre will help ensure that our agriculture and business sectors grow together, strengthening food security, supporting job creation, and expanding private sector development.”
“The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry deserves tremendous credit for the foresight and leadership in establishing this initiative. You have recognised that knowledge is the foundation of sustainable growth. By investing in training and development, the GCCI is investing in people, especially women, who drive our local economies forward,” the Minister added.