Florida’s “Free Zone” may benefit Guyanese manufacturers

downloadGeorgetown: Manufacturers in Guyana, along with those from other Caribbean countries, may soon be able to use the Free Zone in Miramar, Florida in order to reduce production costs, allowing products to be more competitive on the international market.

This is in light of a recent discussion between Foreign Affairs Minister Carl Greenidge and Miramar’s Mayor Wayne Messam on developing trade ties, which was facilitated by Honorary Consul Roshan Ramzan Ali.

Guyana Times understands that sometime next year Mayor Messam is expected to visit Guyana to follow up on the talks which occurred during Minister Greenidge’s visit to South Florida recently.

It was reported that the two conversed about the possibility of manufacturers from Guyana shipping products such as jams, jellies, pepper sauces, condiments and fruit drinks in stainless steel containers to the Miramar Free Zone.

When these items arrive there they can then be bottled, thus reducing the cost Guyanese manufacturers would incur should they have to import glass or approved plastic containers for the same purpose.

Guyana Times was told that in some cases the cost of purchasing containers in the United States of America and having them shipped to Guyana results in the price thus offered to the final consumer being “quite uncompetitive”.

Free Trade Zone

Mayor Messam, while addressing a gathering at the recent Florida Conference on Current Caribbean Issues held at the Miramar Civic Centre Complex, stated that it was his city’s intent to “strengthen business ties with the Caribbean Region”.

He reportedly cited the municipality’s Free Trade Zone as a facility which could serve as a catalyst for promoting mutually beneficial trade links.

During discussions with Minister Greenidge, the Mayor briefed Guyana’s Foreign Affairs Minister on the functions and operations of the Free Zone while identifying some of the business activities that could be of benefit from the use of the Zone.

It was then that the Guyanese Government official suggested that the Mayor and his team visit Guyana to meet with the private sector, including the Guyana Manufacturing Association and the Private Sector Commission to inform Guyanese businesspeople about the Free Zone.

Mayor Messam would also be able to meet with trade officials of the Georgetown headquartered Caribbean Community (Caricom) Secretariat.

It must be noted that almost 33 per cent of the estimated 125,000 population of the City of Miramar are Caribbean-Americans. This is reflected in the composition of the City’s leadership with the Mayor and all the City commissioners being of Caribbean descent.

According to Mayor Messam, the City and its Free Zone are in close proximity to major ports and airports, making it attractive for trade and other business links with the Caribbean.

He stated that Miramar’s Free Zone could serve as a convenient point for the distribution of Caribbean products to other parts of the USA, and for export to international markets.

For a number of years, Florida has offered a number of incentives to Guyana and other Caribbean countries in order to attract investment in its cities. As such, this creates more opportunities of employment for those residing in Florida and ensures that they receive revenue for the roles they play in the manufacturing process.

If Guyana were to take a page out of this book, the Government could use inducements to bring in revenue while creating a larger employment field for locals.

This would ensure that a number of persons who complain about lack of job opportunities could benefit as well as the country on a whole.