Female entrepreneurs to participate in four-day business trade exchange in the US
Nine female entrepreneurs will travel to the United States to participate in a fourday Woman in Business Trade Exchange Programme from April 19 to 22, the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana has announced.
The Louisiana District Export Council, Jones Walker LLP and Techniques International, will be hosting the programme, which will be held in New Orleans.
A release from the chamber indicated that its director Anita Rampersad revealed that it is the first women in business trade exchange.
“It is a reverse trade exchange. Typically, trade missions come from other countries into Guyana and they are hosted by the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, the United States Embassy or through a government ministry. It allows businesses to participate in various business building session,” Rampersad said in the release.
She further stated that the business leadership exchange is somewhat different, as it focuses primarily on women.
“Through a collaboration with the Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry Guyana, our partners in Louisiana reached out and planned the event that will afford women the opportunity to travel, sit and experience a trade mission from a different perspective” Rampersaud was quoted as saying.
She added that the women participating in the trade exchange represent various sectors, among them, logistics, marketing, consultancy and construction. “Each of these women is at a point in their business life where they are looking to do what they now do better; expand, grow or leverage what they have, to venture into something new,” she explained.
The group will take part in business meetings, roundtable discussions, and networking events as part of the exchange program, which could help their businesses grow. The delegation will also hold discussions with US leaders and stakeholders on business opportunities in Guyana.
The women participating are: Rowena Elliot, President of the Women’s Chamber Commerce and Industry; Arifa Mohamed – Business Development Manager, Social Rank Media/ACE Consultancy; Ulex Smith – CEO/Owner, Signature Move Marketing Agency; Donna Rickford CEO/Owner, Supreme Laundromat and Office Cleaning Services; Melissa Varswyk - Co-Founder and CEO, Georgetown American University; Beverly Whittaker – Associate Manager, Global Logistics and Business Services Inc.; Nicola Whittaker – President/CEO, Global Logistics and Business Services Inc; Josephine Tapp – Managing Director, B&J Civil Works; and Anita Ramprasad – Founder/CEO, Prestige Management Consultant.
This delegation was selected after an invitation was sent to business chambers countrywide with the hope of attracting nominees from women-owned and operated businesses. The delegation will leave Guyana on Tuesday.