Page 50 - GMSA 2017 AR Print for flip1

CAPACITY BUILDING & INSTSTUTIONAL STRENGTHENING

Developing resilient fruits,

vegetables sectors key to food security

…as GMSA participates in Ministry of Business workshop

chains were essential building blocks to a developing economy.
As such, there was a need for growing investments to be made
in the agriculture sector due to the growing global population
and the shift in dietary preferences of a growing middle class
towards higher value foods.

During the Ministry of Business workshop, participants also got an
opportunity to have discussions on the opportunities for growth
of the fruits and vegetables sectors through the development
of domestic markets. The shift towards high-end value-added
export markets was also discussed.

The workshop also provided participants with the opportunity
to explore how to better access and utilise their financing and
loans to achieve various outcomes with respect to the industry
standards and trade regiments.
hree representatives from the Guyana Manufacturing and
Services Association (GMSA) joined other private sector At the end of the workshop, several recommendations were made
Tofficials to participate in a one-day workshop organised by that could revolutionise the sector, including the establishment of
the Ministry of Business aimed at supporting the development a national platform to coordinate all of the actors within the value
and export of value-added industries. chain, and the need for cluster development to create synergies
and achieve economies of scale. It was also recommended that
The workshop, which saw the International Law Organisation focus be placed on the enforcement of laws and the upgrading
providing partial technical support, was attended by GMSA of legislation as it pertains to food standards and contracts.
Members Ms Tandika Denny (Tandy’s Manufacturing); Mr
Richard Leo (Sterling Products Limited) and Mr Gevin (Amazon A call was also made for focus to be placed on better data
Caribbean). It was held on Wednesday, August 9,2017 at the collection for investment analysis.
Herdmanston Lodge located at Anira and Peter Rose Streets in
Georgetown, Guyana.

The one-day event commenced around 08:30h with
presentations from United Kingdom-based consultant Mr Sean
Kirwan and his local counterpart Mr Kelvin Craig, who were
tasked with conducting an assessment of Guyana’s fruits and
vegetables sectors.

They both served as the main facilitators of the workshop, where
findings of their research were shared with the participants,
since the main aim of the study was to identify the growth and
export potential of the two sectors while seeking to address the
underlying constraints to their overall development.

The workshop’s participants heard that efficient agriculture and
agro-processing industries and related distribution and logistics

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