Speaking at the opening of a new Robb Street store, Minister of Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad yesterday said that the business sector in Guyana is facing more competition with additional goods and foreign investment coming into the country.
The minister was speaking at the official opening ceremony of China Trading, a retail and wholesale store which is selling everything imaginable from household items to bicycles to clothing to party supplies.
The store which is the brainchild of Chinese businessman Jason Wang is located on Robb Street, opposite Demerara Mutual Life.
China Trading is located on the ground floor of a four-storey building which is a US$1M investment.
Prashad in delivering the feature address said that the business is testimony to what the mind of man can conceive to achieve today.
He recalled Wang going to his ministry for advice and called on all business people to join the chamber of commerce.
According to Prashad, most business people in Guyana don’t like to say how well they did but from all indications the sector did well last year.
He pointed out that gone are the days when only one or two people had a particular product adding that now people are bringing more goods into the country.
With the Caribbean Single Market and Economy (CSME), he said more and more persons from countries such as Barbados, St. Lucia, St. Martin and Antigua are coming here to buy land.
This, he said, goes to show that “Guyana is on the move and is open for business” adding that there is no discrimination against foreign investors.
“We have a free and open economy. That is why we need more Jasons around”, the minister stressed adding that the government is very supportive of the private sector.
He congratulated Wang on his new achievement and wished the business every success.
Wang came to Guyana in January 1999 and later opened the Ace Photo Studio. After leaving the photography field he concentrated his efforts on China Trading and Ace Hardware on Lombard Street.
Work on the China Trading building concluded late last year and the doors were opened to the public last month.
A proud Wang told Stabroek News that he likes this country and this is where he met and married his wife and where his children were born.
Wang informed this newspaper that construction began last March.
Among those present at the simple ceremony were Minister of Labour Manzoor Nadir, Mayor of Georgetown Hamilton Green and Chinese Ambassador Zhang Jun Gao.
