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January 29, 2026
January 29, 2026
World Trade Centre Georgetown (WTCG) and the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana (WCCIG) have formalised a strategic partnership aimed at strengthening export readiness, international market access, and growth opportunities for women-owned and women-led businesses in Guyana.
The partnership was confirmed with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between WTCG and the WCCIG, establishing a two-year framework for collaboration focused on trade development, capacity building, and global business connectivity.
Under the agreement, the two organisations will jointly design and implement initiatives to support small and growing businesses, with particular emphasis on preparing women-owned enterprises for participation in regional and international markets. Planned areas of cooperation include export readiness training, access to market intelligence, business matchmaking opportunities, and co-hosted trade- and investment-focused events.
Speaking on the partnership, Brian Wesley Kirton, Executive Director of the WTCG, said the agreement brings together complementary strengths within Guyana’s private sector ecosystem.
“This Memorandum of Understanding brings together two institutions with complementary strengths. World Trade Centre Georgetown’s role is to help Guyanese businesses understand and access global trade opportunities, while the Women’s Chamber has deep reach within the community of women entrepreneurs. By working together, we can help more women-owned enterprises move from local success to regional and international participation,” Kirton said.
Kirton added that export readiness and market access remain critical gaps for many small and growing businesses.
“This collaboration allows us to deliver practical support, from export education to international connections, in a way that is structured, coordinated, and responsive to the real challenges businesses face,” he said.
The Memorandum recognises the complementary roles of both institutions. The Women’s Chamber will mobilise its national network of women entrepreneurs and contribute gender-responsive programme design, while the WTCG will provide expertise in international trade processes and leverage its global World Trade Center Association network to support partnerships and opportunities.
Key areas of collaboration outlined in the agreement include the development of structured export readiness programmes covering packaging standards, market research, export compliance, logistics, export financing, and digital trade. The partnership also provides for joint promotion of women-led export success stories and coordinated advocacy on trade facilitation policies affecting small and growing exporters.
Josephine Tapp, President of the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana, said the partnership represents a meaningful step toward expanding opportunities for women-owned businesses through trade.
“We see this MOU as a joint effort in acknowledging the vital role of women in trade. This partnership directly tackles the access gap, supporting women-owned businesses as they move from local success into competitive international markets,” Tapp said.
She added, “We know from United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD) studies that empowering women in trade drives national economic growth and reduces poverty. This partnership is a proactive step to build a more inclusive and resilient trade ecosystem and ensure that women have a place in our expanding economy.”
The MoU also allows for reciprocal benefits to members of both organisations, including access to selected events, facilities, and services, and commits both parties to jointly pursue funding or sponsorship opportunities for major collaborative initiatives.
While the agreement does not create binding financial obligations, it establishes a formal mechanism for cooperation, with annual reviews and designated focal points to guide implementation over its initial two-year term.
The partnership comes as Guyana continues to expand its engagement in regional and international markets, with increasing emphasis on ensuring that women-owned businesses are equipped to participate competitively and sustainably in global trade.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed during the Global Trade 2026: Challenges and Opportunities forum hosted by World Trade Centre Georgetown on Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at its High Street, Kingston location.
The high-level forum brought together regional and international leaders to examine emerging global trade dynamics and opportunities for Guyanese businesses.
