GMSA hails growth of manufacturing sector, launches new programme for small business support

Guyana’s manufacturing sector expanded by 20 per cent in 2025, and the Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has rolled out a targeted programme to support small businesses capitalise on this growth.

At the GMSA’s Annual General Meeting on Friday, its President Rafeek Khan credited this growth to the strength and resilience of local businesses. He said the growth is a major achievement for the sector and underscored its role in employment and national development.

“That is a testament to every investment made, every production line expanded, and every product developed by our members,” Khan said.

Importantly, he noted that manufacturing remains a key pillar of the economy alongside a rapidly expanding services sector. Against this backdrop, the GMSA has moved to strengthen small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) through the inaugural Resilience, Innovation and Skills for Enterprise (RISE) Programme, which was launched on Wednesday.

Khan said the initiative is designed for Guyanese businesses, addressing real challenges in business readiness and competitiveness.

“It’s designed for Guyana, for the realities of doing business here, for the challenges our entrepreneurs face every day and for the extraordinary opportunities that exist at this moment in our national story,” he said.

Fourteen entrepreneurs are currently participating in the pilot programme, which provides training in critical areas including financing, pricing, sales strategy, pitching, and operational efficiency. The initiative aims to make businesses more bankable and better positioned to scale up.

Khan noted that the programme represents a shift toward deeper, more targeted support for members, with plans to expand its reach in the coming years.

Guest speaker, Agriculture Minister Zulfikar Mustapha, said continued growth in manufacturing is closely tied to developments in the agriculture sector, which is projected to expand by 7.9 per cent in 2026. He emphasised that agriculture remains a foundational driver of economic activity, supplying raw materials for agro-processing and manufacturing.

“Much of the growth in the manufacturing sector is in part driven by agriculture,” Mustapha said.

The minister added that the government is investing heavily to strengthen agro-processing capacity. He urged the Association to strengthen the integration between agriculture, manufacturing, and services, key areas for sustaining economic growth and unlocking new opportunities for businesses.