Surinamese business representatives are upbeat about the prospects for increasing their trade in goods and services in Guyana and hope that a three-day conference which began yesterday will further foster bilateral relations.
“It looks good for us and we are hoping to form partnerships here in Guyana and expand our businesses,” Rolf Verwey, the manager of Surinamese engineering company FIRM Engineering told Stabroek News.
Verwey said that he was excited to be part of an over 45-member business delegation that is currently here to attend the three-day summit. The conference, which is being held at the International Convention Centre (ICC), is intended to promote trade between the Guyana and its eastern neighbour.
A welcoming ceremony was held last evening at the Princess Hotel at Providence, East Bank Demerara. Present were President Donald Ramotar and Minister of Foreign Affairs Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett who welcomed the business expansion discussions between the two countries.
Carlo Panday, a tourism consultant and representative of the Kirpalani’s Super Store of Suriname, said that over the last three years, there has been a marked increase in trade by Guyanese. As a reward, he announced that Guyanese shopping at the store receive a tourist discount card which sees them getting from 5 to 20 percent discounts at all Kirpalani stores in the Dutch-speaking country and at certain hotels at which they stay.
Director of the Fernandes Group, Bryan Renten, said that he was optimistic of business prospects here. The purpose of his trip along with colleagues from the Suriname Chamber of Commerce, is to familiarize himself especially with customs and trade procedures. His company specializes in food and beverages and he said that it is on a comparative scale to Banks DIH Limited.
The group also sells automobiles and sees Guyana as a potential market in that area also.
The business of shipping and handling from Middle Eastern and Asian countries among others to Guyana has piqued the interest of NVVSH United. “We want more information on how to enter the Guyana market because we offer shipping services, steel fabrication and so on and that seems lucrative here,” Karen Wong Fong Sang said.
Her partner Wayne Martoredjo echoed much of what she said while adding that the company also will be accessing the markets for butter and margarine and protective equipment for construction and factory workers.
Meantime, one businessman told Stabroek News that he is hoping that the harassment business people face from customs and law enforcement officials in Region 6 will be highlighted at the meeting so as to bring an end to it as it is affecting business investments here. “It is not good for every time the business people come over, the police or customs trying to get something from them…they ask ‘What did you bring for me’ and if you have nothing they want to look for something to fine you for,” said T.L.E Tjoen, the General Manager of Multiforms NV, a company that sells construction materials.
He explained that he was here three years ago at GuyExpo and was intrigued by sales possibilities since then but harassment by customs and police officials have been a setback.
President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce and Development Association Abraham Subnauth told Stabroek News that his organization has not received any formal complaints about harassment but if this is done, it will be addressed swiftly.
The three-day conference will today see presentations from officials of both customs agencies who will be brainstorming ways of reducing smuggling.
There will also be business-to-business meetings within the tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, construction, food and beverage and import and export sectors. It will conclude tomorrow with field visits to places of interests here.
