GCCI, Food and Drug Dep’t ink MoU

The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Government Analyst and Food and Drug Department (GA-FDD) on Wednesday signed a oneyear Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for cooperation in agro-processing standards.

According to a GCCI press release, Jewel Sears, Deputy Director of the GA-FDD and Richard Rambarran, Executive Director of the GCCI, signed the MoU on behalf of their respective organisations in the GCCI boardroom at 156 Waterloo St. North Cummingsburg, Georgetown.

The release said the MoU stipulates that both the parties will keep close contact and collaborate for Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) development by enhancing the understanding of the Quality Standards required to operate effectively as an agro-processor in Guyana and application of knowledge and skills gained to improve food safety practices and food quality.

“The planned existing collaboration will cover training delivered to a maximum of 20 existing agro-processors, including men, women, youth, persons with disabilities (PWDs), and indigenous groups in quality standards,” the release explained. In addition to the existing arrangement, the release said the collaboration will also be extended to future mutually agreed MSME Quality Standards development initiatives. “The Parties also agree that the scope of work will be carried out according to the terms and conditions stipulated in the accompanying Appendix subject to mutually agreed amendments from time to time for the new initiatives,” it added.

The MoU is enforced from the day of its signing and shall be valid for one year. The release added that the MoU shall be extended for successive period with the agreement of the Parties.

GCCI said it was appreciative of the efforts of Eusi Evelyn, CDB - CTCS Project Liaison Officer, along with other staff members of the Chamber for making the MoU possible.