Small businesses will have access to free training in financing, pricing, tendering and marketing as the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) rolls out National Small Business Week 2026.
Launched on Tuesday under the theme “Small Businesses, Big Opportunities,” the October 20–25 programme combines practical workshops, networking and discussions with entrepreneurs. It will conclude with a two-day expo at the Railway Courtyard in Georgetown.
The expo, scheduled for October 24 and 25, can accommodate up to 100 exhibitors. Businesses will pay $10,000 for an eight-foot-by-eight-foot booth, while admission will be free to the public.
Speaking at the launch at the GCCI Boardroom, Chamber President Kathy Smith said small businesses play an important role in creating jobs, supporting households and bringing new products and services to the market.
She stressed that entrepreneurs must receive support to participate in Guyana’s expanding economic opportunities, while recognising the sacrifices involved in building and sustaining a business.
Smith also pointed to the growth of businesses that participated in earlier Chamber initiatives, noting that some entrepreneurs now face greater demands on their time because their operations have expanded.
The programme’s training component was shaped by feedback from businesses themselves.
Chairman of the GCCI’s Entrepreneurship and Small Business Committee, Christpen Bobb-Semple, said a survey of Chamber members helped identify the areas in which entrepreneurs most needed assistance.
“You don’t have to be large in order to have a big impact or a big potential,” he said.
The free workshops are scheduled for October 21 and 22, with several institutions providing training.
On Wednesday, the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry will address access to financing and financial management. The Guyana Marketing Corporation will cover business planning, strategy, costing and product pricing.
Thursday’s sessions will include procurement, tendering, government contracts, business growth and leadership, facilitated by the Centre for Local Business Development.
The Guyana National Bureau of Standards will provide guidance on quality, standards and certification, while the Small Business Bureau will cover marketing fundamentals, including digital readiness and customer engagement.
BRAVA by One Communications, the initiative’s principal partner, highlighted the importance of pairing technology with the skills needed to run a competitive business.
“Business owners also need the skills, the financial understanding, and the market access to turn those tools into results,” BRAVA representative Jamal Delph said.
Delph also pointed to One Communications’ announced US$25 million investment in Guyana for 2026, including the expansion of fibre and mobile infrastructure beyond Georgetown.
On Friday, October 23, the Chamber will partner with the University of Guyana to host a Founders’ Talk at the SEBI Building, Turkeyen Campus. Entrepreneurs will share their experiences of starting, managing and growing businesses with university students.
The weekend expo will then give participating enterprises an opportunity to display their products and services, attract customers, make sales and establish business relationships.
Smith encouraged the public to support the exhibitors, emphasising the importance of customer engagement and visibility to the growth of local businesses.
