A $181 million Business Incubator Centre and Agro-Processing Facility was commissioned on Saturday in Lethem, Region Nine, aimed at strengthening agro-processing and small business development in Guyana’s hinterland.
Addressing the occasion, Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues said the investment would expand opportunities for entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth in the region.
Developed by the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce and implemented by the Small Business Bureau, the centre is part of a wider government push to support small and medium-sized enterprises and expand economic participation across the country.
It is equipped with agro-processing machinery, including dehydrators, blow moulding machines, auger packing machines and industrial blenders, along with a loading ramp for trucks to support logistics and distribution.
“This incubator will transform how agricultural output is utilised in this region. Farmers will no longer be limited to selling perishable goods. With access to equipment such as dehydrators, blow moulding machines, auger packing machines, and industrial blenders, products can now be processed, preserved, and packaged to meet market demand,” Rodrigues said.
She said the facility is intended to address gaps in the local production chain by improving product quality, extending shelf life and helping businesses access wider markets.
Rodrigues urged entrepreneurs and agro-processors in Region Nine to fully utilise the centre to develop value-added products and expand their operations.
Officials from Guyana and Brazil attended the commissioning, including delegations from the Governor’s Office of the State of Roraima, the Federation of Industries and the Municipality of Boa Vista, as well as Consul General of Guyana to Brazil Roger King. Also present were Region Nine Chairwoman Vania Albert, Deputy Mayor Indira Singh, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Roger Rogers, Director of the Guyana Tourism Authority Kamrul Baksh, and Small Business Bureau CEO Shazim Ibrahim.
