GMC launches Guyana Shop and Marketing Information Centre
Guyana Chronicle
March 25, 2007
THE Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) yesterday opened its Guyana Shop and Marketing Information Centre to better promote locally-grown produce and manufactured commodities.
The facility, at Robb and Alexander Streets in Georgetown, replaces the former GMC supermarket.
Officials said it will facilitate and coordinate development of non-traditional agricultural produce and products for export and enhance the services offered by GMC.
It will make market information and contacts more accessible to guide clients on current market trends and demand at the global level. Market agents will provide guidance for possible linkages between farmers and prospective buyers/exporters.
Minister of Agriculture Robert Persaud, who commissioned the outlet, said this approach contributes directly to the government’s goal to achieve optimum production in the country’s non-traditional agricultural sector and to make the agri-business sector more efficient.
“This Guyana Shop initiative aims to promote only products made and grown in Guyana and will also conduct some retail sales as secondary focus. Officers will do whatever is necessary to promote export and the facility will provide information to curtail market failures,” he explained.
Changes in the global and regional market demand for agricultural produce require expansion of the non-traditional sector, the minister said.
To achieve sustainability, efficiency and international competitiveness, expansion in production must go hand-in-hand with increased export, he added.
The Guyana Shop and Marketing Information Centre is part of a programme to develop a Guyana Brand, upgrade GMC’s head office, provide technical assistance to staff and stakeholders and collaborate with other agencies to improve capacity and business development activities to stakeholders.
Additionally, the facility is intended to make use of opportunities expected to flow from the influx of visitors to Cricket World Cup (CWC) matches to be held in Guyana from March 28.
Chairman of the GMC Board of Directors, Mr. Geoffrey Da Silva said the initiative is commendable and supports the work of GMC to highlight, promote and develop the country’s local products.
He outlined several other initiatives undertaken by GMC, including the ‘Guyana Nite’ concept, participation in international trade shows and exhibitions, and training of staff and stakeholders to create market linkages.
The Government Information Agency (GINA) said the GMC plays an instrumental role in the export of non-traditional produce to Barbados, Antigua and St Lucia. The corporation is working to develop a similar link with Trinidad and Tobago.
It was through the GMC, the agency said, that market linkages were formed with different buyers from the United States for peppers, plantain and corn flour.
GMC General Manager Nizam Hassan reflected on the work of GMC and the transition period over the past years. Initially, the aim was to promote agro-processing initiatives, an activity which has been taken up by the private sector and is gradually growing, he said.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture Dr. Dindyal Permaul, various heads of department of the ministry, members of the private sector, farmers and members of the public were among those at the opening.
The Guyana Shop currently has more than 400 different local items for sale to the public.