The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) is set to host its inaugural Youth Entrepreneurship Conference on September 12.
The conference, themed “Future Founders: Igniting Guyana’s Next Generation of Entrepreneurs,” will bring together approximately 150 young people to explore business opportunities and develop entrepreneurial skills.
Speaking at the launch on Friday, GCCI President Kathy Smith said the conference will target young people between the ages of 10 and 17 and is designed to move beyond traditional presentations by giving participants opportunities to engage, question and develop their own ideas.
“We want them to be involved. We want them asking questions, exploring ideas, solving problems, and beginning to understand how an idea can be transformed into something of value,” she said.
The conference will feature interactive sessions covering areas including the orange economy, tourism and hospitality, agro-processing and light manufacturing, artificial intelligence, marketing and public relations and turning technology into business.
The initiative is intended to encourage young people to view entrepreneurship as an alternative to simply seeking employment.
The event will also include breakout sessions led by young Guyanese entrepreneurs and professionals, allowing participants to engage more directly with individuals working in various industries.
A key component will be an “Ideas to Income” session, aimed at helping participants recognise that skills and interests can be transformed into viable business opportunities.
Founder of Wallet Wisdom Mikhail J. McKenzie said many young people already possess skills that could become businesses but need guidance on how to commercialise them.
“Lots of the skills that we possess are actually business ideas,” he said, adding that people who can cook, design or create with their hands and minds need to recognise those abilities as potential sources of income.
The conference is free for young entrepreneurs, teachers and parents, with support from the Ministries of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, and Education, as well as private-sector sponsors and partners.
