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United Nations (UN) and Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) partner to advance SDGs in Guyana

29 July 2023

Two persons standing shaking hands while holding a document. Two other persons are standing observing. — Caption: L-R: Kester Hutson, GCCI President and Yeşim Oruç, UN Resident Coordinator after the signing of the Declaration of Intent. Next to Ms. Oruç are Nadira Balram, UN Partnerships and Development Finance Officer and Dr. Gillian Smith, Representative, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations.

Photo: © GCCI

The UN and GCCI signed a Declaration of Intent to foster social and economic development.

On July 29, 2023, Yeşim Oruç, UN Resident Coordinator and Kester Hutson, GCCI President, signed a Declaration of Intent aimed at supporting private sector’s contribution to economic and social development in Guyana.

The partnership is framed within the overarching UN Multi-country Sustainable Development Cooperation Framework 2022-2026 and aims to enable private sector engagement in line with the strategic priority areas of the Framework: prosperity and economic resilience, reduced inequality and leaving no one behind, climate and environment and governance and the rule of law.

To promote the private sector as a key stakeholder for advancing the SDGs, the UN will provide capacity building support to advance economic diversification, enhance employability and enable SDG alignment. Areas of support will include exploring SDG investment pipelines and SDG impact considerations, promoting strategic business planning and use of digital technology in business development (digital services), digital finance, mentorship, and coaching. The private sector will also be guided to align operations to global business standards. This includes encouraging businesses to promote gender equality, non-discrimination, inclusion and diversity in the workplace and adopting inclusive policies.

Through this partnership the private sector also committed to being an advocate of global UN messages around topical issues including, but not limited to, human rights guidelines to combat issues such as misinformation and disinformation, inequalities, vulnerabilities, xenophobia, violence and hate by taking action and empowering their staff and membership to stand up for rights.

The Declaration of Intent was signed during the National Small Business Week Seminar and Expo, which provided small-business owners with critical insight geared at helping them expand their businesses.