Guyana is benefiting from expertise in a number of areas from a team of Canadian volunteers from the Canadian Executive Service Organisation (CESO).

According to a press release CESO hosted the three volunteer experts last month after having resumed its programme in Guyana in March. CESO is funded by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) and this venture is being done in collaboration with local business partners.

CESO said volunteer Hardy Manhas facilitated the Tourism and Hospitality Association of Guyana (THAG) in developing a strategic plan for its work over the next three years. THAG has collaborated with CESO over the last few months in hosting volunteers who provided technical expertise in tour guiding and events planning, the release said. This month THAG will also receive volunteer services to provide training in hospitality services.

Volunteer Bruce Delicaet came to Guyana on the initiative of the Linden Economic Advancement Programme (LEAP) which has been facilitating the work of the Upper Berbice Forest Producers Association. LEAP co-hosted Delicaet to provide technical advice to the Association which is seeking to add value to its forestry business. Delicaet provided the Association with a number of recommendations on how to increase the value chain in the forestry business. The Association has also benefited from a grant from the Inter-American Development Bank.

Another CESO volunteer Ronald Bollman was attached to the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association (GMSA) in September. The release said the GMSA invited Bollman who has extensive experience in the Canadian Foreign and International and Trade Department, to identify the main features of trade agreements governing Guyana’s trade relations and compile a database of the said agreements. Bollman will also provide the GMSA with an action plan for implementing the contents of the agreements for the benefit of its members.

CESO/CIDA and its local partners expect that the work of these experts will make a significant contribution to Guyana’s industry and trade.