Guyanese manufacturers and service providers must look beyond the domestic market and position themselves for exports, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association President Rafeek Khan has said.
Khan said Guyana’s rapid economic growth has created a major opening for local producers to reach global markets, but businesses must first develop an export mindset.
Khan said the world is now coming to Guyana, creating opportunities for local companies to showcase their products, services and brands to international investors and buyers.
“The world is coming to us,” Khan said, noting that the GMSA is meeting representatives from other countries almost every week.
He said Guyanese companies should think about exports through three channels: land, air and sea.
By land, Khan said, companies should examine what products can be sold to nearby markets such as Suriname and Brazil. By sea, he said, Guyana can ship products internationally, including timber and other goods. By air, he said, expanding airline links could support cargo exports to Miami and Caribbean markets.
Khan said some businesses complain about logistics, but shipping lines are already operating in Guyana and can move products to international markets. He said companies with the right products and services must begin thinking seriously about export opportunities.
He also said exports can help businesses earn foreign currency and reduce dependence on the domestic market.
“If companies export internationally, you’re getting foreign currency in your business,” Khan said.
According to Khan, even if 10 per cent or one-third of a company’s revenue comes from exports, that business may face less pressure in sourcing foreign currency.
He also pointed to tax advantages that may be available to exporters, saying companies that earn a larger share of revenue from exports can benefit from lower corporate taxes, subject to confirmation from the Guyana Revenue Authority.
For international readers, Khan’s message signals a shift in Guyana’s private sector. The country is not only attracting foreign investment because of oil and gas; it is also trying to build export-ready manufacturing and services companies that can compete across the Caribbean, Latin America and wider global markets.
