Reg 10 residents benefit from bamboo furniture-making course

Ten residents of Maria Elizabeth/Three Friends and Nottinghamshire, Region Ten (Upper Demerara-Berbice), have benefitted from a five-day bamboo furniture-making training session.
According to the Ministry of Natural Resources, the training was conducted under the Euroclima Bamboo Project from May 13 to 17. It was facilitated by the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), in collaboration with project partners from the European Union (EU), Expertise France, and Beijing-headquartered International Network for Bamboo and Rattan (INBAR).
In Budget 2026, the Government announced plans to pilot bamboo furniture manufacturing across the country.
“In 2026, the forestry sector will pilot bamboo furniture manufacturing using existing inventories while cultivating 50 acres to expand bamboo supplies in support of sustainable diversification,” Finance Minister Dr Ashni Singh had said.
Dr Singh also noted that the Government will establish a registry of furniture manufacturers and identify beneficiaries for training to help grow supply to meet the needs of residential and commercial consumers.
Consequently, in April, the GFC launched a national bamboo pilot project funded by the EU under the Euroclima programme, with technical assistance from Expertise France and INBAR.
Through the initiative, 500 bamboo plants were planted at Coomacka, Region 10. The Ministry of Natural Resources had noted that this exercise will be replicated in other areas throughout the country.
Bamboo plants of the species Bambusa vulgaris var. vulgaris are being trialled for the restoration of a mined-out bauxite site in the old Coomacka mines area, close to the Maria Elizabeth/Three Friends community, with the technical guidance of INBAR.

The Ministry had noted that this flagship project continues to focus on actionable and tangible targets not only for bamboo trials but also for building knowledge and capacity at all levels. The Ministry added that it also sets the stage for dynamic partnerships in a new industry based in nature and sustainability.
This intervention comes at a time when imported furniture continues to dominate Guyana’s domestic market, supplying an estimated 70 per cent of demand.
This is according to the 2025 Annual Report of the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA), which found that “the domestic furniture market remains largely import-dependent, with imports estimated to meet around 70 per cent of demand, while local producers supply the remaining 30 per cent”.
The report identifies the imbalance as a key structural issue within the value-added wood manufacturing sector.
Data contained in the report shows that furniture imports have grown significantly over the past several years, highlighting the expanding reliance on foreign goods.
“Import data indicate that furniture imports increased from about US$10 million in 2020 to over US$20 million in 2023,” the report noted, pointing to a doubling of import expenditure within a relatively short period.
When combined with local production, “total annual demand for furniture is estimated at approximately US$32 million”, illustrating the size of the domestic market and the potential opportunity for local manufacturers.
The surge in furniture demand is closely linked to Guyana’s ongoing housing and infrastructure expansion.
Beyond housing, the report highlights demand generated by commercial and hospitality developments, noting that “the hospitality sector is expected to add over 2500 hotel rooms”, further increasing the need for contract furniture, office fittings, and interior décor.