Georgetown: After two decades of being in existence, many persons still do not know of the services offered by the Guyana Office For Investment (Go-Invest), according to the entity’s Investment Officer Sean Doris.
To this end, the organisation has embarked on a series of outreaches aimed at improving awareness of the advantages of both small and large investors to make use of the services it has to offer.
The outreaches are part of celebrations to mark Go-Invest’s 20th anniversary.
At a recent outreach in New Amsterdam, Doris explained that the entity does not provide money for investors, but provides them with a comprehensive summary of steps necessary to commence business operations.
One of the more significant benefits of using Go-Invest’s services is that it assists investors to obtain exemptions from customs duties and taxes on machinery, equipment and vehicles.
However, some feel that the investment facilitation body has not been doing ideally what investors want.
“Go-Invest needs to broaden its horizon,” one potential investor told Doris, noting that commercial banks are not there to assist businesses, but seek the earliest opportunity when possible for foreclose.
“There are just in business to grab…”
However, Doris said investors could use their influence and affluence to determine how banks operate. He, however, warned that they must be organised in what they do.
“What we do at Go-Invest is to take your challenges to Government so that policies can be implemented that would be of benefit to investors. While Go-Invest may recommend someone to the bank, it is the bank that has the final say…”
The investors were encouraged to stop just producing and to start doing some amount of processing.
“As investors, you have to start adding value to your products,” Doris said.
