The Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Industry and Commerce (TTCIC) plan to establish a joint trade desk within three months to systematically identify and resolve non-tariff barriers that have long frustrated businesses trading between the two CARICOM countries.
The initiative, formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed on July 8, is intended to replace years of issue-by-issue engagement with a permanent mechanism for documenting trade obstacles, coordinating private sector advocacy and working with governments to remove barriers that restrict market access.
“Today’s MOU seeks to establish a structured approach to addressing the non-tariff barriers between Guyana and Trinidad in the interest of bilateral trade and evening the playing field in terms of market access,” GCCI President Kathy Smith said.
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The trade desk will be supported by a joint working group that will receive complaints from businesses, categorize the issues, determine whether they require private sector collaboration or government intervention, and monitor progress toward their resolution. Chamber officials said the framework is expected to be operational within three months.
The move comes as Guyana prepares for an expansion of its manufacturing sector. The GCCI said lower electricity costs expected from the Gas-to-Energy project, coupled with the planned Wales Manufacturing Zone, should improve the competitiveness of local manufacturers, making reliable access to regional markets increasingly important.
“With the cost of electricity expected to be slashed by 50% and the establishment of the Wales Manufacturing Zone, we are ramping up our manufacturing sector in all areas, from agri-processing to value-added production. Balance in market access is therefore crucial,” Smith said.
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Among the issues expected to receive early attention are long-standing restrictions affecting Guyanese agricultural exports, including honey, pineapples and peppers. The chambers intend to prioritize the most commercially significant issues while engaging the relevant government agencies where regulatory or legislative changes are required.
For the Trinidad chamber, the value of the initiative lies in creating an institution that endures beyond individual administrations or chamber leadership.
“Businesses require a permanent mechanism that provides continuity, accountability and measurable outcomes,” TTCIC President Karen Yip Chuk said. She noted that previous collaboration between the two chambers had already resolved several commercial issues while establishing a documented inventory of outstanding trade barriers.
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Under the agreement, the chambers will also collaborate on business intelligence, investment promotion, research, knowledge sharing and trade facilitation, while presenting coordinated, evidence-based recommendations to their respective governments.
“This Memorandum of Understanding establishes that framework,” Bipchuk said. “It creates a platform for joint advocacy, trade facilitation, business intelligence, investment promotion and the systematic monitoring and resolution of non-tariff barriers affecting all members and the wider business community.”
The initiative complements a separate cooperation agreement signed earlier this year between the GCCI and the Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, which focuses on collaboration in the oil and gas value chain. Energy Chamber President Dr. Priya Marajh said the broader objective is to strengthen commercial ties across both the energy and non-energy economies.
“Success for Guyana creates opportunities for Trinidad and Tobago, but… success in Trinidad and Tobago also creates opportunities for Guyanese businesses as well,” she said. “The focus really is on mutually beneficial partnerships for both parties.”
