Guyana Forestry Commission, GMSA launch housing consortium 

See below the full release from the Guyana Forestry Commission: 

November 14, 2025: The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), through Commissioner Edward Goberdhan, today joined the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) in celebrating the Exhibitors’ Value Chain Forum and the official launch of the Housing Consortium, together with Barama Re-Certification of its Made in Guyana Product Certification at GuyExpo 2025.

In his remarks, Goberdhan underscored that the event reflects the transformative moment Guyana is experiencing under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali—whose unwavering commitment to sustainable, low-carbon development is reshaping the forestry, housing, and manufacturing sectors in ways that are generating new value, new industries, and new opportunities for citizens across the country.

Goberdhan highlighted that President Ali’s leadership has championed a bold reimagining of how Guyana’s forests can drive national prosperity while remaining among the most sustainably managed in the world. Through the advancement of the Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS) 2030, President Ali has positioned sustainable forestry as a catalyst for innovation, green manufacturing, climate-resilient housing, and community development. The GFC, aligned with this national vision, has been accelerating its programmes to expand value-added timber production, improve manufacturing standards, and ensure that forest-based enterprises—from small community groups to large producers—can contribute meaningfully to Guyana’s economic diversification.

He noted that over the past few years, the GFC has helped to modernize Guyana’s timber sector by supporting the production of kiln-dried lumber, mouldings, furniture, and precision-milled components for modular and prefabricated homes. These products are now forming the backbone of new local housing models, including those championed by the Housing Consortium launched today. In addition, a wide range of timber species including the Lesser Known Species are being utilized. Goberdhan emphasized that this Consortium is a direct outcome of President Ali’s call to build a stronger domestic manufacturing base—one that uses sustainably harvested Guyanese timber to create high-quality, affordable, climate-resilient homes for families, both locally and for future export markets.

The Commissioner also noted the tremendous strides Guyana has made in improving traceability, certification, and digital monitoring across the forest sector, helping to assure international markets that Guyanese timber is both environmentally sound and legally verified. These advances are reinforcing the country’s ability to increase exports of value-added wood products and supply a rapidly expanding domestic construction sector—both of which support Guyana’s position as a global leader in climate and forest stewardship.

Goberdhan further underscored that President Ali’s leadership has been critical in ensuring that prosperity from the forest sector is shared widely. Expanded support to Community Forest Organisations, streamlined licensing processes, training, and value-chain integration are enabling hinterland communities to benefit from new jobs, improved livelihoods, and greater participation in national economic growth. This inclusive, people-centred approach is a defining feature of the President’s low-carbon vision.

He added that the integration of forestry, housing, manufacturing, and climate action—and the achievements on display at GuyExpo 2025—demonstrate the success of Guyana’s model: one where sustainable forest management drives industrial transformation; where innovation reduces waste and increases competitiveness; and where national development remains firmly aligned with global environmental leadership.

Commissioner Goberdhan concluded by reaffirming the GFC’s commitment to supporting President Ali’s transformative agenda. He also congratulated Barama Company Ltd on achieving the recertification of the Made in Guyana label and the company’s significant investment in added value activities and job creation. He further noted that the Commission will continue to champion value-added growth, strengthen forest governance, empower communities, and deepen collaboration with the private sector to ensure that Guyana’s forests remain an engine of sustainable national development.

Through actions like the one launched at the Expo, Guyana is not only safeguarding its forests— it is proving that a low-carbon pathway can deliver economic strength, industrial innovation, and long-term resilience for all Guyanese.