Guyana Named World’s Only Fully Food Self-Sufficient Country

A global study published in Nature Food revealed Guyana is the only country that can independently meet its population’s nutritional needs across all major food groups. This underscores Guyana’s robust agri-sector and its resilience against global food shocks.

Business opportunity: High potential for exports, value-added processing, and climate-resilient agriculture investments.

Govt Considers Gold Trading Licences for Village Councils

The Government of Guyana is advancing a bold plan to issue gold trading licences to Indigenous Village Councils, empowering them to legally purchase gold from local miners and sell it to the Guyana Gold Board or licensed exporters. Announced by Minister Vickram Bharrat at the National Toshaos Council Conference, the initiative aims to curb gold smuggling, increase legal declarations, and drive economic inclusion in remote communities. By allowing villages to capture value from local production, the policy could create new revenue streams, fund development projects, and formalize economic activity in the hinterland. While the plan presents opportunities for entrepreneurship and self-reliance, it also requires training and safeguards to manage financial, security, and compliance risks. The success of early adopters like Chenapou in Region Eight will likely shape broader national implementation.

Business Opportunities Based On Today’s Developments

Small Enterprise Opportunities

1. Rural Furniture Manufacturing in Indigenous Communities

Why: The push to replace raw log exports with value-added products such as school desks and household furniture opens a clear market.
Opportunity: Establish micro-workshops in Indigenous villages for producing government-supplied school and office furniture using local wood.
Support: Training and capacity-building offered by the Guyana Forestry Commission.

2. Aquaculture Supplies & Maintenance Services

Why: The Ministry of Agriculture is distributing 50 fish cages across multiple regions.
Opportunity: Start a small business supplying fish feed, cage repair services, water testing kits, and mobile consulting for fish health.
Note: This is ideal for entrepreneurs near aquaculture regions or in partnership with local community co-ops.

3. Cassava Processing Micro-Plants

Why: Region 9 is experiencing cassava surplus, and the government is encouraging cassareep and cassava bread production.
Opportunity: Set up small-scale facilities to produce and package cassava-based goods for institutional and retail sales.
Notes: Demand already exists—government is considering direct procurement.

Medium Enterprise Opportunities

1. Mobile Drainage Support & Engineering Services

Why: Guyana is rapidly deploying 40 mobile drainage pumps and investing in national irrigation infrastructure.
Opportunity: Establish a service business offering portable pump rentals, trench clearing, and maintenance services to municipalities and agriculture zones.
Support: Partner with the NDIA to be part of the supply chain.

2. Construction & Civil Works Auditing

Why: The Education Ministry terminated a $253M contract due to non-performance.
Opportunity: Start a construction quality assurance or auditing firm specializing in project delivery oversight and compliance documentation.
Notes: Increasing government intolerance for delays may create recurring work under the Public Procurement Act.

3. Gold Trader Agency & Transport Services

Why: Village Councils may soon be granted gold trader licenses.
Opportunity: Offer logistical and security services for legal gold transactions, or tech-enabled platforms to support traceability, receipts, and transport coordination.
Compliance: This business must integrate with GGB and GGMC regulatory frameworks.

Large Enterprise Opportunities

1. Integrated Rural Supply Chain & Market Access Platform

Why: Multiple rural surpluses (cassava, rice, gold) remain under-marketed.
Opportunity: Build a nationwide cold chain and rural aggregation hub system that connects hinterland production to coastal or export markets.
Scope: Can cover cassava, fish, vegetables, and artisanal products. Leverage public-private partnerships to scale quickly.

2. Oil & Gas Compliance and Audit Services

Why: The government is disputing $279M in Exxon’s expenses and conducting multi-year audits.
Opportunity: Launch a professional services firm offering specialized audit, forensic accounting, and compliance support for extractive industries. Could later expand to local content verification and ESG compliance.
Clients: Government ministries, private operators, international watchdogs.

3. Industrial-Scale Furniture Manufacturing with Public Procurement Alignment

Why: Major government shift toward using local furniture in schools and government buildings.
Opportunity: Invest in an industrial facility focused on producing modular, durable furniture designed for high-volume institutional use. Potential for export to CARICOM markets.
Note: Prioritize automation, training partnerships with GFC, and formal tender positioning.

Side Hustle Ideas Based On Today’s Developments

1. Community Furniture Reseller (Micro Value-Add Operator)

What: Buy raw or semi-finished furniture from Indigenous villages (who are now being trained to produce) and resell in urban markets with minimal refinishing, labeling, or bundling.
Why it works: You become the bridge between rural production and urban buyers—especially useful as government pushes for local furniture procurement.
Time commitment: 1–2 weekends a month sourcing and transporting, then using online platforms like Facebook Marketplace or WhatsApp to sell during the week.

2. Mobile Drainage & Small Equipment Rentals

What: Rent out small, affordable tools like portable water pumps, weed whackers, or trenching gear to communities dealing with drainage issues or small construction works.
Why it works: The Liliendaal drainage upgrades and flooding in Black Bush Polder highlight the demand for immediate access to tools. Owning even one pump or machine creates a niche rental business.
Time commitment: Light oversight. Can be managed through WhatsApp bookings and weekend maintenance.

3. Packaged Indigenous Goods Curator (Boutique Export Prep or Local Gifting)

What: Curate and package small-batch items like cassareep, cassava bread, charcoal, and local crafts sourced from Indigenous or hinterland communities.
Why it works: Government is actively seeking markets for these goods. With a few good suppliers, you can create “Guyana-made” bundles for gifting, diaspora sales, or small-scale exports.
Time commitment: Flexible, mostly evenings and weekends. Build supplier relationships during spare time, then pack and fulfill orders after hours.