`It is a rare occasion when an ordinary citizen is saluted by the Head of State and for this we are deeply appreciative' - Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year 2000, Mr. Ronald Bulkan

GUYANESE businessmen who have done Guyana proud by emerging as leaders in the Caribbean, were honoured Friday night by President Bharrat Jagdeo at a special ceremony in Georgetown.

Heading the list of awardees was Mr. Ronald Bulkan, of Precision Woodworking Limited who earlier this month won the Ernst & Young Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year 2000 award.

"I want to say thank you on behalf of our people. Thank you for doing something that is very important to Guyana...", Mr. Jagdeo told Bulkan and the others at the reception at the Police Officers Mess.

"It is a rare occasion when an ordinary citizen is saluted by the Head of State and for this we are deeply appreciative", Bulkan responded.

Both referred to the unwarranted negative image Guyana has in the Caribbean and elsewhere which could affect manufacturers seeking to develop trade and economic relations with other countries.

Referring to his Caribbean award, Bulkan said the immediate benefit from such an achievement was that the recognition could go a long way towards helping to correct the negative image which, unfortunately people in the Caribbean and elsewhere have of Guyanese.

"Winning this award will do much for our company, but I also believe that even more important than that (is that it) will bring into reality the fact that here in Guyana, by ourselves we can make world class products that can successfully compete on the international market," Bulkan said.

The President said it was disconcerting that people who do not even know sufficient about Guyana can make negative comments about Guyanese.

"The constant battle with which we are faced is to change the negative image of this country that people have abroad," he said.

Bulkan, founder and co-Managing Director of Precision Woodworking Limited, topped a field of 14 other Caribbean nominees at the regional awards ceremony and banquet at the Trinidad Hilton and Conference earlier this month.

It was a double victory for Bulkan who also took home the award for the Manufacturing & Food Processing category.

His success at what was the second staging of the Caribbean Entrepreneur of the Year Conference, now puts Bulkan in the running with 20 other winners from around the world, for the World Entrepreneur of the Year Programme scheduled for Monte Carlo in 2002.

In 1983, Bulkan and his two brothers founded Precision Woodworking Limited, manufacturing modular furniture, mop sticks, broomsticks and novelty items for export to regional markets.

Today, they design and produce a line of furniture, 90 per cent of which is exported to some of the most exclusive retailers in the United Kingdom, including John Lewis, Marks and Spencer and Harrod's.

The company is believed to be among the top 10 producers of outdoor furniture in the world.

Others honoured at the Presidential ceremony Friday night were Mr. Gerald Gouveia of Roraima Airways; Ms. Mayfield French of Mae's Secondary School; Mr. Dennis Morgan of Denmor Garments Manufacturing; Mr. Prittipaul Singh of Prittipaul Singh's Investments; Mr. Jad Rahaman of Whitewater Tours and Mr. Deo Singh of DIDCO. (Rahaman and Deo Singh were winners in the 1999 regional competition.)

Bulkan said that having only last month received the Presidential Export Award, and now the regional entrepreneur award, he could not deny being overjoyed and excited. He saw the awards in the context of doing good for the value and image of the company.

He said that since winning the prestigious award in Trinidad, "we have literally been inundated with requests from highly reputable companies and large trading organisations who would like to set up business contacts with us."

Reflecting on the proud record of performance and achievement in the manufacturing industry here, President Jagdeo expressed confidence that Guyana can become the most diversified economy in the hemisphere.

He pointed out that five of the six Guyanese nominated at the regional level represented non-traditional sectors.

Noting that Guyana has a number of other non-traditional sectors he said some are trying to restructure, become more efficient, and focus more on value added.

These include the sugar industry getting into producing and packaging specialised organic sugar; jewellers expanding and exporting to other Caribbean countries and rice being used as a base for other products.

Reiterating the Government's policy to support private investors by offering a 75 per cent tax-free incentive on export profits, the President said this is unmatched anywhere in the world.

He pledged that should this amount not be enough, the Government will sit and work with investors to offer further assistance.

Bulkan said that had it not been for the Government's assistance, his company would have been a stillborn. He said the 75 per cent tax-free incentive given on exports contributed significantly to its achievements.

He recalled that his company started out with very little. "We brought no inherited capital; we brought no specialist skills in the manufacture of furniture; we brought no track record of management - the essentials of any business enterprise.

"All we brought was a vision which was subsequently matched with determination, zeal and zest; commitment and hard work."

If his company could have reached this far from such a start, there is no reason why other larger, more established firms with the ingredients cannot get involved in similar value added activities, he said.

Bulkan said that prior to the establishment of Precision Woodworking, the concept of value added, and producing a pre-manufactured product for sale overseas was only an idea.

"For myself therefore, I am proud to be in a position of taking this abstract concept...and making it a reality...it is our expectation that many more companies will get involved in similar endeavours", he said. (SHIRLEY THOMAS)