GEORGETOWN, Guyana – The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has launched the inaugural “GMSA IMPACK Manufacturers’ Summit” hoping to attract major Caribbean stakeholders to address challenges and explore opportunities in various manufacturing sectors.
GMSA President Ramsay Ali, with other officials at the launch of the summitThe GMSA said that the summit, scheduled for March 2024, will also focus on enhancing Guyana’s competitive edge in the region’s manufacturing landscape and to position the country as a leading manufacturing hub in the Caribbean by fostering collaboration, knowledge exchange, and innovation among local and regional manufacturers.
It will also tackle critical issues such as access to finance, supply chain, labour, energy efficiency, and government policies, to develop practical strategies that boost the competitiveness and sustainability of the manufacturing sector in Guyana and the broader Caribbean region.
“The summit presents a unique opportunity for local manufacturers to gain valuable insights, establish connections with regional counterparts, and explore potential partnerships that can drive growth and expansion.” said GSMA president, Ramsay Ali, adding “we want to see real progress and effective implementation of the ideas and strategies discussed during the two-day event.”
President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Kester Huston, in endorsing the summit said “this will provide an opportunity for deliberate conversations on policy and enable an environment that will cause businesses to grow in a sustainable manner”
Speaking at the launch of the summit, the chief executive officer of the the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers’ Association (TTMA) Dr. Mahindra Ramdeen, said his organisation is “100 per cent behind the operationalization of this summit, and we anticipate that the outcomes will allow us to further facilitate trade among our member states and discuss how we can improve and encourage traders to come on board”.
He said he hopes the discussions will expand to include topics such as deepening CARICOM, facilitating trade, and eliminating trade barriers.
The GMSA said it hopes an actionable document will be produced after the summit, with recommendations for policymakers and leaders that will drive prosperity and ensure a vibrant and thriving manufacturing sector.
A logo for the summit was also unveiled during the launch of the summit, which features an open box symbolising the upcoming developments in Guyana’s manufacturing sector that will position the region as a manufacturing powerhouse.
