A regional project for ‘Effective and Sustainable’ Diaspora engagement for development in the Caribbean is currently being held at the Kingston, Georgetown Pegasus Hotel.
Minister Joseph Harmon delivers an address at the opening of the event.
The event, which will continue until Thursday, is one that is intended to direct focus on providing entrepreneurs of Guyanese origin residing overseas with an opportunity to explore prospects for establishing small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in their home country based on an assessment of the major sectors.
It is moreover tagged “Go See Visit 2017” and is part of a regional project being collaboratively undertaken by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). It is focused on complementing the engagement strategy now being developed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Citizenship and the Ministry of Business and Tourism to harness resources and facilitate the transfer of skills and knowledge, thus increasing Diaspora involvement in Guyana’s development, according to information out of the Foreign Ministry.
A section of the gathering.
Ten participants, drawn from Canada, the United Kingdom and the United States are expected to be in attendance to attend workshops, interact with local stakeholders and agencies, and conduct site visits to areas relevant to their business interests.
These interests could range from software development to maternal and child healthcare services. This initiative will also help to establish networks and create opportunities for new and innovative entrepreneurship initiatives, including those geared to increase employment in low income communities in Guyana.
Minister of State Joseph Harmon, in delivering the feature address at the opening of the event, in the capacity as Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, said that the workshop is a testament to the administration’s commitment to fostering relations with the Guyanese Diaspora as it had promised during its elections campaign.