Business support powerhouses unite to fast-track SME growth

Business leaders at the strategy meeting

More than 100 entrepreneurs, business owners and managers came together on Saturday to shape detailed 90-day action plans during GrowthCLUB, ActionCOACH Guyana’s quarterly business planning workshop.
Hosted at the World Trade Centre (WTC) Georgetown, the 42nd edition of the event brought together some of Guyana’s most influential business support institutions.
WTC Georgetown Executive Director Wesley Kirton, in his remarks, stressed the importance of ambition, readiness and continuous learning in the country’s rapidly evolving economic environment. He reminded attendees that Guyana’s growth story must be matched by strong domestic enterprises capable of scaling.
“Entrepreneurs are the engines of every strong economy,” Kirton said. “The fact that you chose to spend your Saturday planning and investing in your leadership tells us you are ready to play a bigger role in Guyana’s future,” he said.
Dr Vishnu Doerga, Business Master Coach at ActionCOACH Guyana, led participants through structured tools focused on goal setting, financial management, team alignment and time mastery. He encouraged leaders to close the gap between their stated values and their daily decisions. “It’s not enough to talk about vision and culture,” he told the group.
“Real leadership happens when your actions, your team’s focus and your numbers line up with the future you say you want,” he said.
Financial institutions used the platform to show how strong planning directly influences access to capital.
Demerara Bank Limited (DBL) Branch Manager Farahnaz Hosain highlighted the bank’s push to make financing more accessible, pointing to competitive rates, low fees and improved processing speed. She promoted the bank’s “Switch Your Mortgage” campaign and noted that upgraded systems now allow certain loan decisions within 24 hours.
“When business owners are organised and clear on their numbers, we can respond faster,” she said.
Institute of Private Enterprise Development (IPED) Business Development and Marketing Manager Robert Williams highlighted the organisation’s 40-year legacy supporting entrepreneurs nationwide.
While collateral and documentation matter, he said IPED places major emphasis on the individual behind the business. He introduced IPED’s new invoice financing facility, which provides GYD $20–35 million in non-collateralised funding to help businesses manage cash-flow gaps while waiting on payments.
“Too many good businesses stall because of delays. This product keeps work going and teams employed,” he noted.
Participants also heard from JSB Group Chief Executive Officer Jason Bhaskaran, who traced his rise from a one-man operation to a major construction supplier employing 75 staff and more than 100 contractors. He credited structured coaching for helping him build systems and leaders around him.
By the close of the event, business owners left with written 90-day plans, defined KPIs and renewed accountability to their teams.
GrowthCLUB will continue quarterly in 2026, helping Guyanese businesses track progress, refine strategies and build disciplined habits.