Lethem Industrial site to be operational by 2019
At a recent site visit to the Industrial Estate in Lethem, South Rupununi, Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, expressed satisfaction with the works being conducted. Roads, culverts, and drainage works are currently being carried out at the site.
There had been a decline in the pace of works by the contractors, a few months ago. However, following the tour of the site by the consulting engineer, Minister Gaskin reported that the issue has been ironed out and works were almost on original schedule. According to Minister Gaskin, the world-class industrial site built on the outskirts of Lethem will be a source of employment for the community. It will be also a business incubator with immediate impact for the region.
Through this ‘incubator’, Gaskin explained, small business operators will be provided a temporary space that they can occupy.
The minister revealed that the plan is to create an industrial hub for the entire Region Nine, and take advantage of that particular area and the huge market to the South. The location allows for favourable access to a number of products in Guyana.
This, he explained, will make an attractive investment prospect for both local and Brazilian investors especially in the agro sector.
Gaskin further added that the government is looking to tie agriculture with the processing of products and other support services to an export strategy which is being developed.
The Industrial Estate was scheduled to be completed this year but had to be reviewed because work appeared to have been done haphazardly. Also, the estate did not initially cater for small businesses.
The Ministry of Business has responsibility for industrial estates at Lethem, Belvedere, Eccles, and Coldingen. The latter two have a combined total of 120 developed plots which houses close to 60 developed estates providing jobs for about 4,000 Guyanese.
The main industries are wood-processing, cement and block-making, food processing, fish processing, furniture manufacturing, metal fabrication and pharmaceuticals.
In the 2016 Budget, $212M was allocated for the development and repair of the industrial estates at Belvedere and Lethem.
(Kaieteur News)