New chamber launched to champion Guyana’s young entrepreneurs

A new organisation aimed at empowering young Guyanese entrepreneurs was officially launched on Thursday at the Guyana Energy Conference Youth Forum, in a ceremony attended by government ministers, private sector leaders, and the Chamber’s thirteen founding members.

The Guyana Youth Entrepreneurship Chamber (GYEC) was founded by Dr. Rosh Khan, President of ACE Consulting Group, and a founding cohort of 12 members, to give young entrepreneurs, primarily between the ages of 18 – 40, access to the resources they need to build and grow their businesses.

The Chamber’s programming will include executive roundtable discussions, entrepreneurial workshops, networking events, and a competitive Youth SME Incubator. An annual showcase will recognise outstanding youth-led enterprises. GYEC has also invited representatives from several business support bodies, including the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce & Industry, the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, the Private Sector Commission, AmCham Guyana, and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana, to sit on a formal Advisory Council. Other organisations will also be approached for support in the coming weeks.

Minister Zulfikar Ally offered an unequivocal show of support on behalf of the Government of Guyana, telling the audience that the organisation has its full backing. He encouraged the founding members to hit the ground running and challenged them to expand the Chamber’s membership and make good on its mandate.

Kathy Smith, President of the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), and Captain Gerry Gouveia Jnr, Chariman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), both offered congratulatory remarks, advising the young entrepreneurs to lean on one another and work in alignment with the existing business support organisations.

The Chamber was launched with a founding membership of twelve drawn from sectors as varied as marine logistics, digital media, graphic design, finance, and the creative industries. Among the founders are University of Guyana students, a CARICOM Youth Ambassador, and experienced business operators — a mix that reflects the breadth of talent the GYEC hopes to serve.

For any youths interested in signing up, please email guyanayouthchamber@gmail.com.

[Press Release]