COMMISSIONING OF THE WTC GEORGETOWN BUILDING

Jun 25, 2025

This article is part of a new series, "WTCA Member Spotlight," a series of articles written by WTCA team members to give readers a glimpse into the diversity and dynamism of the global WTCA community.

Penned by Carlos Ronderos, WTCA Regional Director, Latin America

On Friday, June 20, Guyana’s President Dr. Irfaan Ali commissioned World Trade Center Georgetown (WTCG), Guyana which he says will play a pivotal role in equipping local businesses with the tools and networking opportunities needed to compete on the international stage. Additional speakers at the ceremony included myself; Mr. Alfred Mentore, Mayor of the capital city of Georgetown; Mr. Komal Samaroo, Chairman of Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), which is the license holder of WTCG; and Mr. Brian Wesley Kirton, WTCG Executive Director.

Located on High Street in Georgetown, WTCG – the first of its kind in the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) region – is a state-of-the-art, multi-story building that is outfitted with advanced technologies, integrated security systems and other environmentally friendly features – all aimed at providing a modern commercial space that is critically needed in Guyana’s rapidly growing economy.

Delivering the feature address at the commissioning ceremony, President Ali noted that “World Trade Center Georgetown is a powerful example of private sector initiative aligned with national development… I look forward to World Trade Center Georgetown helping to shape this new economic culture in our country – one that speaks the language of export readiness, trade facilitation and global competitiveness with the tools, networks and exposure needed to compete and win on the global stage.”

While this investment is reflective of the type of confidence that the Guyanese business community has in the country’s increasing economic growth – largely driven by its burgeoning oil and gas industry – the Head of State underscored the need to re-examine the way in which both companies and the government are traditionally structured and managed to ensure they are agile and flexible to embrace both the challenges and the opportunities that are heading this way.

“This is not merely a real estate play – this is a development play, a nation-building play, a confidence play. This Center must now be animated not just by meetings and exhibitions, but also by outcomes [and] results. Let it become the go-to destination for international trade missions. Let it host dialogues between local producers and global buyers. Let it inspire new standards in office infrastructure, business services and commercial culture,” said President Ali.

Mr. Komal Samaroo disclosed during his remarks that since acquiring the license for WTCG in March 2022, extensive work has been done to promote Guyana and the investment opportunities there at major forums across the world.

Mr. John E. Drew, WTCA Chair, Board of Directors, sent a message highlighting the importance of this event given the dynamism of the Guyana economy, the active role of WTC Georgetown in WTCA activities, and for being the first operational WTC business in the CARICOM region.

Wtc Georgetown Commissioning