| Guyana is sending a large delegation to neighbouring Brazil later this year, following the historic visit of a huge group of business representatives from that country last week.Describing the Brazilians’ visit here as hugely successful, Executive Director of the Private Sector Commission (PSC),Andre Drummond Pistons Swingman Jersey, Roubinder Rambarran, yesterday also disclosed that several local businesses are continuing talks with SEBRAE-led group and already there are strong indications that several business alliances have been made.Executive Director of PSC, Roubinder RambarranThe PSC was highly instrumental in bringing the team down. Although there have been several visits between the two countries, it was the first time that such a large delegation came here and they were afforded the opportunity to actually meet local businesses in a seminar.While the PSC official noted that many of the negotiations are private,Marcus Morris Pistons Jersey, there are strong indications that the Brazilians want to enter the value-added sector for the timber industry,Andrew Bogut Mavericks Jersey, and to open processing mills here.With Brazil under restrictions for exporting wood products and Guyana strategically and geographically placed, the delegations are more than convinced that Guyana is a highly feasible area for investments.Already, the cheaper cost of steel and cement here has the business team from the Roraima State of Brazil more than convinced that it may be far better to ship from Guyana than from right within that neighbouring country. Contacts have been made with the hardware suppliers including, National Hardware and Gafoor’s.In the tourism sector,Chris Paul USA Jersey, there are commitments of exchange visits between the two countries.The Executive Director disclosed that from current figures provided, an estimated 150 cars enter Lethem daily from Brazil.The Brazilian delegation during the business seminar Tuesday at the Guyana International Convention CentreThis easily could rival actual tourist arrivals at the Cheddi Jagan International Airport, Rambarran said. If the PSC had its way and half of this group manage to make it to Georgetown, then it would be a massive development for the tourism sector and the country as a whole as a destination.Additionally, Brazilians have indicated a strong interest in buying fertilizers from Guyana. With over 30,000 acres of land being planted in the Roraima State, there is a desperate need for fertilizers. Imports have be flown or shipped from as far as 5,000 km away, it was disclosed.There is also wide interest in the trading goods, Rambarran said.Companies like Sterling Products and NAMILCO are in talks with businessmen who came in the delegation.Last week, a 60-member delegation came from Brazil to explore business opportunities here.They were led by SEBRAE, a similar agency to the Guyana Office for Investment.Several businesses and local stakeholder organisations packed the Guyana International Convention Center as Brazilian officials urged for local businesses to use the opportunities to forge ties.According to Almir Morais Sa,Bojan Bogdanovic Nets Swingman Jersey, President of SEBRAE, while it would be logistically impossible for Guyana to supply Roraima State with all its needs, a huge void could still be filled.The delegation arrived Sunday at Lethem and met with the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of that area.On Monday,Michael Jordan Bulls Swingman Jersey, the team visited Linden and met with the business community and inspected the new Christianburg Transshipment Terminal site – a wharf that is currently being built there for trade.On Tuesday,Authentic Marvin Williams Hornets Jersey, CEO of GoInvest, Geoffrey DaSilva,Tobias Harris Pistons Jersey, said that the joint team was the largest ever to Guyana from Brazil. With four presidents already attempting to build ties with Brazil, Guyana has now moved to a position of “walking the walk”, he said.According to DaSilva, already Region Nine has started to boom. In 2002,Nicolas Batum Hornets Swingman Jersey, GoInvest was considering one project – in 2009, this jumped to 116. For Region 10, there are 50-odd projects slated for that community by investors. |
