THE January 21-25 chamber-exchange mission to Brazil by the National Association of Regional Chambers of Commerce of Guyana (ARCC) has succeeded, ARCC President, Mr. Ramdial Bhookmohan said yesterday.
An ARCC participant has already written a proposal for an agent relationship with a Brazilian principal. Another has begun purchasing industrial equipment and a third is working with ARCC on establishing additional agent relationships, he reported.
Another has reinforced supplier relationships, while four others have entered into market testing arrangements.
Sixty-eight Guyanese firms and their representatives belonging to nine countrywide chambers of commerce in the ARCC travelled to Brazil o the mission. They participated in chamber-to-chamber and business-to-business exchanges in the Brazilian cities of Boa Vista and Manaus.
The delegation met Governor of Roraima state, Mr. Neudo Campos and other members of his staff.
According to Bhookmohan, "delegates from ARCC member chambers have begun broad-based relationship building and networking that showcases ARCC member firms to attract compatible investment and find buyers and/or suppliers for goods and services offered or needed by Guyana businesses."
He said some key areas of business prospects are in electronic equipment, the manufacturing sector (furniture) and agricultural spares and tools.
Bhookmohan told reporters at the Georgetown office of the New Building Society, of which he is Chairman, that many members of the ARCC delegation plan to return to Brazil on their own in the near future to sell and procure products and establish agent relationships.
He said two prospective investors from Brazil have contacted local businessmen, who were on the delegation, notifying them of intentions to visit and inspect facilities and operations.
All ARCC mission participants have now established "solid contacts" with Brazilian chambers and with businesses and organisations in Boa Vista and Manaus.
"They visited business establishments, a unique free zone, toured plant operations and explored opportunities in Brazil's market. They returned with lists of business prospects and ideas of how to approach or begin exploiting newfound business opportunities," Bhookmohan told reporters.
Paulo do Vale Pereira Filho, 2nd Vice President of Boa Vista's Chamber of Commerce, worked with ARCC to develop and conduct its five-day mission, he said.
The mission also included, Bhookmohan said, a half-day tour of the world famous Ariau Tower, a premier eco-tourism resort set in the jungle bordering the gigantic black water Rio Negro River, about 40 miles above Manaus. ARCC's Brazilian hosts arranged for the delegation to witness and participate in cultural events as well, he said.
He pointed out that the importance of ARCC's chamber exchange and its relationship building mission to Brazil lies in among other things, the high level of interest in trade and investment with Brazil as demonstrated by the large size of the delegation.
He said the mission to Brazil shows ARCC's emphasis on private sector empowerment while at the same time maintaining a solid relationship with the Government, as shown by Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Manzoor Nadir's and Brazilian Ambassador to Guyana Ney Do Prado Dieguez's official sendoff of the delegation from the Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri.
Bhookmohan added that the mission paves the way for the continuing strengthening of ties among ARCC's nearly 400 members generally and the 68 mission participants particularly.
He said the mission saw participation of businesses from all nine ARCC chambers - Bartica, Berbice, Essequibo, Linden, Mahaica, Rupununi, Upper Corentyne, West Berbice, West Demerara.
ARCC hopes that its mission to Brazil has opened the eyes of Guyanese businesses to expanded possibilities for growth, profitability and customer services, he said.
The team leader said ARCC members are making arrangements to visit Venezuela and Suriname with the aim of establishing trade links.