Latest update March 28th, 2024 12:59 AM
Jan 15, 2017 News
By Kiana Wilburg
Guyana’s markets are saturated with foreign products. But even with this state of affairs, there are still relatively young entrepreneurs who refuse to be discouraged by a less than enabling environment and are looking to make their mark with locally manufactured products.
Some of these range from virgin coconut oils, creams, milk, pepper sauces, jams, seasonings, spices, candies, jellies, peanut butter, soaps , beverages and even tea bags.
A plethora of these products can be found in a number of local supermarkets and mini marts at gas stations. But they are found particularly at the Guyana Shop of the Guyana Market Corporation (GMC) which is located at Lot 87 Robb and Alexander Streets, Lacytown, Georgetown.
GMC is the agency of the Ministry of Agriculture that provides marketing services to stakeholders in the non-traditional agricultural sector.
The Guyana Shop of GMC delivers irresistibly low prices through the availability of product lines of more than 60 local Agro-Processing Companies. The management there works hard to ensure consumers get the lowest prices possible on the items which households need every day.
Furthermore, the Guyana Shop boldly transforms the retail experience, becoming Guyana’s only one-stop shop for Locally Manufactured Products. Focused on making the customer experience better every day, management is constantly dreaming up new ways of reviving the many joys of shopping.
Customers will discover great prices every day in an exclusive shopping environment that features exceptionally high quality products, a dynamic presentation and unmatched customer service.
THE PRINCESS COSBERT STORY
One product looking to make a real hit in Guyanese homes and abroad is a line of “Nature Fineness” tea bags which is produced by Princess Cosbert.
The single parent said that she started her business in July and it has been the best decision she has made thus far as a budding businesswoman.
In an interview with Kaieteur News, the 31-year-old said, “Well I have held several jobs before having my own company. I worked at NAMILCO as a machine operator and then at the Two Brothers Gas Station as a pump attendant. I then branched off on my own and worked as a cosmetologist for some time, but due to the effect it had on my health, I had discontinued it.”
Cosbert noted, however, that she always desired to have her own business. She explained that she started with powdered seasoning and even bought the machines to do it, but it was not a successful venture for several reasons.
The resident of Remus Street, Agricola, said that she was always a fan of tea, and got the idea one morning to remove the contents of a Lipton tea bag and replace it with her own concoction of herbs and spices. This was easy for her, since she had the machines at her disposal.
Observing that the mix in her view was much better, she packaged a few more, and shared it with friends and family for their opinions. Much to her delight, they were hooked, and it remains a family tradition.
“I had a small job at the time, but I was just using the tea bags among family and friends, and I was so surprised that they loved it. A friend of mine in the islands whom I shared it with, told me she loved it. She said that she shared it with a few of her colleagues and they were asking for more.
During that same conversation, she just pushed me to share it with Guyana. She was confident that the rest of the nation would love it too. I took her advice and from that time, there was no turning back.”
The talented young woman said that her company which was recently registered started off slow, but it has turned out to be an extremely profitable venture, with the Guyana Shop showing great support among other local supermarkets.
She shared that there are four flavours which include: Toyo and Eucalyptus, Sweet Sage and Suriname Cherry, Lemon Grass and Teaseum and Tulsi and Cure For All.
The lover of teas noted however that there has been some difficulty in getting her products on the shelves of more recognised supermarkets. She said that for some reason which remains unknown, they continue to give her “the royal run around.”
Cosbert said that in spite of these obstacles, she will continue to persevere. She emphasised that she is proud to be a member of the manufacturing sector in Guyana, regardless of how small it is, and is encouraging locals to throw their support behind Guyanese-made products.
SATURATION
When it comes to the saturation of the local market with foreign products, many local manufacturers have varying perspectives as to what might be responsible, and what outlook should be adopted.
According to manufacturers, one of the main reasons for this state of affairs is the culture of the manufacturing sector itself.
One manufacturer opined, “I think this culture of the manufacturing sector has changed and there are a number of reasons why it has moved from being an extremely diverse area in our economy to one that is filled with numerous traders. And it is simple. It is just easier and cheaper to trade. It isn’t easy becoming a manufacturer here. That is like a philosophical ideal of a job now. In the ‘70s and ‘80s, Guyana’s manufacturing sector was an extremely vibrant and innovative field. We were producing all of our own jellies, matches, detergents, milk, cheese, cooking condiments, household appliances etc.
“Then all of a sudden, we ended up in an environment where the culture of manufacturing is about some traditional items like rums, paint, rice and sugar. This 10 to 18 percent growth rate that we keep talking about in the manufacturing sector is really false too, because the only thing that keeps it up in that bracket is rice and sugar producers. Take them out and you would really see where the manufacturing sector’s growth is at. We are stagnant.”
Another manufacturer, from the agro-processing field, believes that the tardiness by the authorities in passing Investment Agreements is also hindering the sector. The manufacturer said that this is an important element in having an enabling environment to encourage manufacturers, stressing that some may have the desire to be innovative, but Guyana’s slow systems can place a damper on one’s plans to “shake up the industry.”
Other manufacturers believe that the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) needs to put an end to its annual excuse that high electricity is plaguing the sector needs to come to an end.
They insist that it was an issue in the 1990s and it never killed the manufacturing sector then, and it is not responsible for the state of affairs today.
“What we need are the right concessions from Government, a willingness from financial institutions to be more lender-friendly to manufacturers and the GMSA to actually do its work.”
GMSA
The GMSA Executive Committee continues to hold the belief that it is indeed an embarrassment to the sector that certain products which can be produced and packaged here, are dominating the local markets. However, they chalked it up to the “laziness” of some manufacturers and their failure to be inventive.
One member in particular opined that the saturation of the markets with some imported goods can also be attributed to the failure of agencies such as the Bureau of Standards to ensure that low quality or inferior products do not make it into the markets.
ANOTHER TAKE
Sharing his thoughts on the issue recently was University Professor, Dr. David Hinds. He opined that manufacturing is certainly one of the ways to reinvigorate the village economy, which is something President David Granger has spoken about.
Dr. Hinds said that Guyana has a history of small manufacturing initiatives that could be used as a template now. He said that in the 1970s many such projects had sprung up across the country. He said that there has been a tendency in developing economies like Guyana’s to put all the emphasis on attracting large foreign investments and not paying enough attention to small and medium-sized manufacturing.
Hinds said that that is an inadequate model which Guyana has been guilty of following, adding that it is important for Guyana to embrace a mixed model, which partly asks the following question: How does this policy benefit our poor people?
He said that what has affected the sector in his opinion is the free trade principle which has led to a liberal flow of foreign goods into Guyana’s market.
Dr. Hinds opined that is always going to be a challenge, but he is sure that the government can guarantee that local manufacturing is protected and given prominence in its own markets.
THIS IDIOT TELLING GUYANA WE HAVE NO SAY IN THE 50% PROFIT SHARING AGREEMENT WE HAVE WITH EXXON.
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