Georgetown : Craft producers from across the country whose livelihood depend on the sector converged at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) for a meeting with President Bharrat Jagdeo today to brainstorm ways of improving the quality of their products for the local and international market.
The meeting ended on a positive note for the producers with the President expressing willingness to establish a special loan facility to back the stakeholders in their work.
Following the success of the Women of Worth (WOW) programme that made it possible for single parents, particularly women to borrow loans with a maximum repayment period of 24 months from the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry (GBTI), President Jagdeo said he is prepared to create a similar facility for the craft industry.
In the event that some craft producers are under-qualified for loans from the banks, the President said he is willing to set up a $10M fund to support the industry.
The President however, implored proper administration in the distribution of such funds.
I’m prepared to work with you but it has to be properly administered and I am not compromising on that… this is intended to help very small producers,” President Jagdeo.
The Head of State also committed to working with the Guyana Association of Craft Producers (GACP) to overhaul the building in Kingston which will serve as the Association’s headquarters, pledging $10M.
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