THE latest $2.8 billion expansion project by DIDCO is yet another show of trust by local entrepreneurs in the people and economy of this country.

All Guyana would welcome the opening of the DIDCO Feedmill and Rice Export Division, which, among other things, will cater for the manufacture of stockfeed for the company’s poultry farm that forms part of the billion-dollar project.

DIDCO is currently the largest importer of `dressed’ chicken, and once the other stages of the project are completed, Guyana in a big way will say goodbye to imported chicken. Other phases of the complex include a hatchery capable of producing some 45,000 baby chicks per week, a poultry farm consisting of 20 ventilated chicken houses with a meat bird population of 41,000 each and a poultry processing plant capable of processing 6,000 birds an hour.

When this happens, many people believe that the large amounts of foreign currency used in the importation of chicken could be used to bring in other much-needed essentials among other things. Currently, millions of United States dollars are spent in the importation of the commodity every year.

Apart from draining the economy of precious foreign currency, the importation of chicken, leaves our local poultry farmers in a situation of unfair competition. This, we say, is not good for our poultry industry or our farmers who, despite challenges, are determined to continue developing the industry.

We believe that as soon as all the phases are completed, large numbers of Guyanese would be employed in the various aspects of the company’s operations, catering especially for those unemployed persons living in proximity of the complex.

We also feel that this would be a positive move towards reducing poverty and improving the standard of living of those who would be employed, and, by extension, their families.

We commend entrepreneur Mr. Deo Singh for taking such a bold step and for the confidence shown by his company in the local economy.

Many people believe that DIDCO’s confidence and spirit of entrepreneurship would certainly reflect in the general improvement of the people and Guyana as a whole.

We believe that there are dozens of other hesitant local entrepreneurs out there. We would invite them to cast their doubts to the wind and find the willpower to come forward and take up the challenge and invest in their country. In this way, Guyana could become a model of modern development in this part of the hemisphere.

Only recently, the giant Banks DIH conglomerate opened its $130M Drive Thru restaurant on Sheriff Street.

The New Thriving Restaurant has also flung open its doors to the public at its new complex at Brickdam and Camp Street, Georgetown, not to mention numerous other business-places that have started operations in and outside of Georgetown in recent times. Last week, BEV and Bounty Farms commissioned the Protein Recovery Inc, a facility, which will convert fish and poultry waste into high protein animal feed.

These are all clear manifestations of the determination and will of our business community to continue contributing towards the building of an economy from which all sections of society would benefit.

Most Guyanese recognise the bravery and courage of these entrepreneurs who put country and people first and would allow nothing to deter them from forging ahead and making solid and meaningful contributions towards nation-building.

More of these brave men and women need to come forward and show the world that Guyanese have both the courage and the conviction to take a stand for their country’s future.