FOLLOWING a productive five-day venture to Region 1 (Barima/Waini) to promote diversified economic activities, the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and the team of local and overseas investors met last Monday to review and charter a medium and long-term plan of action for the region.

The meeting held at the Hotel Tower was attended by Acting President Samuel Hinds who led discussions with Essar Steel of India, Jaling Forest Enterprises from China and other investors in the mining sector.
Mr. Hinds was part of the team that visited the region for five days and engaged the new investors on a tour of some of the potential locations in the region to support their operations.
Investors and other stakeholders in the agriculture, tourism, handicraft and aquaculture sector, who were part of yesterday’s meeting, formed themselves into respective groups for the plan of action.

Prior to the engagement the Acting President disclosed that plans are already underway to implement some of the proposals put forward.

Following meetings with representatives form the Guyana Geology and Mines Commission (GGMC), the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) and the Guyana Lands and Surveys Commission, a proposal will be presented for an effective port of entry in Region One.

This move was prompted by requests made by some of the investors for docking and other shipment facilities to facilitate the progress of their operations.

Essar Steel from India will be investing in manganese mining near Port Kaituma and intends to transport ore via 18-ton highway trucks to a storage and shipping facility at the port/canal in Port Kaituma and is requesting increased storage space, Customs and Immigration facilities.

The acting President also disclosed a plan to change the fortnightly ferry service to a weekly service. This is in the making to hasten the process of transportation.

The Ministry of Agriculture, the National Agriculture Research Institute (NARI), and the new Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) are part of the effort to enhance the Region’s agriculture potential.

During yesterday’s meeting Feroze Mohammad of NARI, after discussions with other stakeholders interested in the Region’s agriculture development outlined a management strategy for cash crop management which includes storage facilities in the region.

Workshops in the region for marketing, technical training and the preservation of organic agriculture were also proposed.

Efforts to resuscitate the handicraft industry in the region have been successful since the last visit by the Ministry of Tourism and handicraft specialist, Denzil Hollingsworth.

The first handicraft women’s group was formed in Port Kaituma and will soon be officially launched while in Hosororo. A building was identified for this venture but it needs upgrading.