Over 300 women-owned businesses to be showcased at ‘WELift 5’

The fifth edition of the WELIFT (Women Empowerment – Leading, Innovating, Flourishing Together) initiative is set to kick off with some 350 female-owned businesses showcasing their products and services at the National Aquatic Centre at Liliendaal, East Coast Demerara.

WELIFT 5 is hosted by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, and has, over the years, become known as the largest exposition featuring women-owned businesses.

The businesses participatingin this exposition, which starts today: Friday, April 11, and concludes on Sunday, April 13, are diverse, ranging from candle-making and soap-making to agro-processing, among other things; and products such as condiments, a wide variety of food items, fashion, craft, jewellery, and more would also be featured.
The opening ceremony is scheduled for 16:30hrs, after which there would be a series of interactive sessions, including skincare and beauty demonstrations and other engaging activities. These will take place alongside visits to the exhibition booths.
There will be several sessions on both days covering topics such as yoga, makeup, craft-making, jewellery-making, candle-making, and soap-making.
Speaking at the launch of the initiative on Thursday afternoon, Minister of Human Services and Social Security, Dr. Vindhya Persaud, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to promoting small businesses, particularly those that might otherwise go unrecognized.
“Yes, small businesses, but especially new businesses. We are trying to promote those that may have never had the opportunity to gain this level of visibility. Many are new, and we’re also looking at small businesses that have evolved into mid-level enterprises,” she said.
Dr. Persaud further noted that the initiative is connected to long-term support structures like the Women’s Business Incubator at the Guyana Women’s Leadership Institute, where women can access support in areas such as packaging, marketing, and networking, with others seeking specific services.
She added that WELIFT has already been taken to Regions 2 and 10, and the plan is to expand even further to include the hinterland regions.
“I wouldn’t want to prioritise, but we’d like to take it to all the regions, including the hinterland. With the kind of work we’re doing and the investment we’ve made in training, we want to give women across the country the opportunity to showcase their businesses just as we are doing here,” she said.
She also took the initiative to emphasize that this initiative aligns with the Ministry’s broader commitment to women’s empowerment. “It’s an incredible opportunity offered by the Ministry of Human Services and Social Security, and speaks to our commitment to women’s empowerment. Following free training through the Women’s Innovation Investment Network (WIIN), this exposition represents the natural progression into entrepreneurship. I am really impressed by what these women have accomplished. We have seen their growth.”
Dr. Persaud highlighted that this initiative is also a means to foster continued business development.
“We’ve seen many of them move from micro to mid-level businesses, and we hope that, with this kind of exposure, they can continue to grow,” she declared.
She also revealed that many women entrepreneurs have now secured contracts with local hotels to supply products such as condiments — an achievement she sees as an important step forward.
“This is what we need to see going forward, as the Ministry continues its dedicated efforts to empower women,” she stated.
Dr. Persaud anticipates the event would be both productive and engaging.
“This year, we’ve seen a lot of people come on board in a big way to provide services, and that’s quite exciting. The services are diverse, ranging from design and décor to accountancy and even construction. There is quite a spectrum of businesses participating in WELIFT,” she disclosed.