GMC staging agro-produce promotional fair in Antigua

GMC General Manager
Ida Sealey-Adams
GMC General Manager Ida Sealey-Adams

Even as local agro-processors step up their lobby for the creation of greater market opportunities for their produce in the region, Stabroek Business has learnt that the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) is in the process of creating an opening for local agro-produce to consolidate its existing foothold on the market in Antigua and through that vehicle to possibly expand access in territories beyond the region.

Earlier this week Stabroek Business received a Briefing Note from the GMC indicating that the local agency would be spearheading a multi-agency Agro Processors Trade Show in Antigua at which produce manufactured by more than 30 producers could be afforded the opportunity to secure markets in Antigua and beyond.

Stabroek Business understands that discussions associated with the staging of the event are currently underway between the GMC and the local vendors who have indicated an interest in being part of the Trade Fair. While the agency has indicated that it is hoping that as many vendors as possible will travel to Antigua to be directly involved in the marketing of their products, cost considerations could place limits on that option in which instances the GMC itself will take responsibility for product promotion at the event. The Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association (GMSA) has confirmed that it is entertaining a formal approach from the GMC to help meet the costs associated with vendor participation and that it has engaged the local office of the Inter- American Development Bank (IDB) in that regard.

The Trade Show is a response to persistent inquiries from buyers in Antigua regarding the sourcing of fresh and processed fruit and vegetables from Guyana. “As such, the Corporation felt the opportunity existed to explore this market interest by hosting a Trade Show” in Antigua, a note from the GMC providing details of the event said.

Antigua is one of Guyana’s key regional target destinations for fresh and agro-processed products. Over the past four years, exports of fruit, vegetables and agro-processed products totalled 553,775 kg. Therefore the event also opens the opportunity to continue discussions with business houses in Antigua regarding the prospect of having agents there market local fresh and agro-processed products from Guyana.

In addition to catering to the demands of the large Guyanese diaspora in Antigua, the two-day event also seeks to take advantage of “the increased influx of tourists to the island,” circumstances which it says provides “an opportunity to expand this market to target the Guyanese and other buyers including those in the hospitality industry.” The Corporation’s initiative also takes account of the fact “that the tourist numbers in Antigua and Barbuda has been on the increase.”

However, beyond the Guyanese diaspora and the increasing level of tourists visiting Antigua, the Corporation’s initiative also included seeking to seize the opportunity to target potential buyers in the hospitality sector.

According to the GMC, while acknowledging the need to ensure that adequate supplies of a full range of agro-processed goods was available locally, it was also mindful that spikes in production could result in a glut on the local market, hence the intensification of its targeting of regional and extra-regional markets.

There is the understanding that an important aspect of the Antigua initiative would be to continue discussions with businesses regarding the prospect of having entities in Antigua serve as marketing agents on the island for local fresh and agro-processed products.

Asserting that there was a clear and deliberate mission behind the Antigua initiative, the GMC has listed its objectives as:

•   Identifying specific buyers of specific products in Antigua.

•  Engaging corporate buyers who may be willing to be a part of the  backward integration process for local products.

•  Engaging in discourses on the logistics of the export of fruit, vegetables and processed products from Guyana to Antigua and other export destinations.

• Increasing exports to Antigua and other regional and extra regional destinations.

• Identifying Buying Agents who can be used  to market Guyana’s farm products and

  agro-produce in Antigua and neighbouring   countries.

The GMC pointed out that its planning of arrangements for the staging of the two-day event in Antigua involves engaging with air and sea service providers for the movement of participants and cargo to Antigua. Its organisational pursuits, it says, are being supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through the country’s Honorary Consul in Antigua as well as the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST) and other state and private sector entities.