Sugar industry to get new marketing plan as President meets with UK-based company

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President David Granger, who is presently in London for a number of high-level meetings, has met with executives from United Kingdom-based sugar and ethanol trading, advisory, and supply chain management firm, to discuss the reorganization of the sugar sector and the development of a competitive marketing strategy for the Guyana Sugar Corporation Incorporated.

According to a statement from the Ministry of the Presidency, the UK-based CZARNIKOW, which has been working with GUYSUCO for a number of years, will engage with the company on the new strategic plan after the White Paper on the Future of the Sugar Industry is laid in the National Assembly on May 8, 2017 and debates are completed.

Associate Director, John Ireland and Chief Executive Officer, Robin Cave met with the President, as well as Minister of Foreign Affairs, Carl Greenidge and High Commissioner, Hamley Case on Monday in London.

The President told the executives that Guyana needs technical support even as the country looks toward the consolidation of the industry in order to make it more competitive. This, he said, would be done through a combination of the maintenance of the Albion, Blairmont and Uitvlugt sugar estates, private sector investment and the promotion of peasant farming.

Only recently the President had announced during the Berbice Expo that the three aforementioned estates would be retained by the Government and further highlighted the need for value-added production in the sector.

Currently, the sector employs about 17,000 people and the Head of State emphasized the need for investment in order to ensure viability and increased efficiency in the industry.

The Opposition People’s Progressive Party had noted that the current administration is allowing the industry to fail, placing thousands of workers on the breadline.

Discussions on ways to consolidate Guyana’s access to the British market in light of BREXIT were addressed as well.

The Government Release also stated that Guyana’s marketing strategy for sugar is also likely to include improving access to EU markets and the expansion of marketing arrangements in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM).

While in London, the President is also expected to have an audience with Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II.