By Antonio Dey | HGP Nightly News |
LILIENDAAL, GREATER GEORGETOWN — More than 260 young Guyanese were given a comprehensive entry point into commerce, innovation, and enterprise management as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) staged its inaugural Youth Entrepreneurship Conference at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre (ACCC) in Liliendaal.
Organized under the theme “Igniting Guyana’s Next Generation of Entrepreneurs,” the national forum brought together 265 secondary and primary school students representing 86 learning institutions from across the country. The initiative was executed in strategic collaboration with the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, the Ministry of Education, and the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI).
The fully sponsored, admission-free conference specifically targeted youth between the ages of 10 and 17, exposing them to foundational business modeling, market opportunity assessment, and the expanding economic avenues unlocked by Guyana’s rapid macroeconomic expansion.
Cultivating Problem-Solvers: GCCI President Challenges Youth
Delivering the keynote corporate address, GCCI President Kathy Smith challenged the students to view enterprise not merely as an avenue for wealth generation, but as a discipline centered on community problem-solving and critical curiosity:
- Inquisitive Mindset: Smith urged participants to question established inefficiencies in their surroundings and design practical commercial remedies.
- Curiosity as a Commercial Engine: She emphasized that global and local market leaders build enduring commercial footprints by identifying everyday challenges that the wider populace often overlooks.
“The question can change anything, but every great business begins with someone being curious to solve a problem that other people learned to live with,” Smith told the young delegation.
Orange Economy and Creative Financing: Minister Rodrigues Outlines State Support
Addressing the conference on behalf of the executive branch, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues outlined state-backed capital allocations aimed at empowering youth through the development of the “Orange Economy”—encompassing digital media, music, fine arts, software development, and cultural production:
- State Funding Mechanisms: Minister Rodrigues revealed that the administration is deploying multi-million-dollar grant programs and technical training incubators tailored for emerging creative and technological innovators.
- Domestic Talent Retention: The Minister underscored that the government’s economic agenda aims to create viable commercial avenues locally, allowing talented youth to build lucrative careers without feeling compelled to migrate abroad.
“We are now making millions of dollars available to developing Guyana’s creative industry,” Minister Rodrigues announced. “It is our goal to ensure that you can stay in your country, develop your talent, and earn a living from it.”
Fostering a Culture of Early Enterprise
The day-long gathering exposed students from diverse geographic districts to practical business concepts, emphasizing that modern entrepreneurship demands resilience, fiscal discipline, and collaborative leadership.
GCCI and ministry representatives affirmed that following the strong turnout across the 86 participating schools, the Youth Entrepreneurship Conference will be developed into an annual fixture on the national commercial calendar, serving as an institutional bridge between early education and real-world enterprise development.
