Latest update April 19th, 2024 12:59 AM
May 07, 2009 News
Small and medium-sized agro processors have formed themselves into an Association. Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Manniram Prashad, commended the move by the agro-processors, saying that they will be able to take advantage of the many opportunities available for funding and capacity building.
He said that individually, the agro processors could find it difficult to access development assistance, but this can now be made possible. He was speaking at the first meeting of the Association held at the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce in Georgetown, yesterday.
Prashad said that while there is commendable production in the agri-sector, small and medium-sized agro processors have not been adding value to their products, and as a result they cannot compete against products which are smartly packaged and labeled.
In addition, he said that the association would help its members to also regulate pricing, since some persons can ‘price’ themselves out of the market.
Prashad also sought to encourage the businesses to take advantage of his Ministry’s Matching Grants Initiative (MGI), a component of the National Competitiveness Strategy (NCS).
The initiative aims to raise the competitiveness of private Guyanese firms, in particular small and medium enterprises, by enhancing their export capacity. The programme will provide eligible firms with small grants for export readiness assessment, project preparation and project implementation to prepare firms to export, to launch export initiatives and to expand export activities.
Under the National Competitiveness Strategy Unit, there is the Matching Grants Executing Unit, which is due to formally commence implementation of the MGI programme.
To this end, the Ministry will be launching this programme tomorrow at the International Conference Centre, Liliendaal. The Initiative is being funded in part by the Inter-American Development Bank.
The NCS falls under the Support for Competitiveness Programme (SCP) which received $501.5M in this year’s National Budget.
Further, there is an NCS Council which is chaired by President Jagdeo and includes members of government, the GO-Invest CEO and representatives from various private sector bodies, including the Private Sector Commission and labour unions.
Please share this to every Guyanese including your house cats.
Apr 19, 2024
SportsMax – West Indies Women’s captain Hayley Matthews delivered a stellar all-round performance to lead her team to a commanding 113-run victory over Pakistan Women in the first One Day...Kaieteur News – For years, the disciples of Bharrat Jagdeo have woven a narrative of economic success during his tenure... more
By Sir Ronald Sanders Waterfalls Magazine – On April 10, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States... more
Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.
Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]