Latest update April 7th, 2025 12:08 AM
Ministry of Agriculture, German firm ink multi-million-dollar contract
Ministry of Agriculture, Permanent Secretary Dr. Dyndial Permaul and GFA’s Wolfang Haupt signing the contract on Monday.
The Ministry of Agriculture and a German firm, GFA Consulting Group, inked a $197 million contract on Monday for the European firm to provide consultancy services for Guyana’s Agriculture Export Diversification Programme.
This programme is aimed at increasing the export of non-traditional products thereby increasing income.
The contract which is funded by the Inter American Development Bank (IDB is for three years.
At the signing of the deal at the Ministry of Agriculture Boardroom, Agriculture Minister Robert Persaud put the firm on notice that he is expecting exemplary work from them since they are deemed reputable.
The firm is expected to develop institutions and services that will augment this venture.
Minister Persaud cautioned them to achieve their deliverables since he will be monitoring their progress.
Apart from getting the best deal possible the country is seeking to have value for its money, he added.
The German firm was selected from six firms that were short listed for the consultancy after advertisements for expressions of interest were placed in both local and international media.
Persaud said that he would not be accepting the regular routine that is indicative of some consultancy firms.
The Minister said that he expects the activities to be transformative and not a rehashing of anything that was done elsewhere.
The fifteen experts attached to the project are expected to be relevant and they should have gained experience from countries that have a programme similar to Guyana.
He said he is hopeful that with their intervention that Guyana will emerge a major international player in the export of non-traditional exports.
He said that one does not have to look far for such examples.
He pointed to Chile and Brazil that have emerged as major nations in Agriculture Diversification front.
Speaking on behalf of the GFA consultancy firm, Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean, Wolfang Haupt, said that his firm is aptly qualified to execute such a task after undertaking such programmes in a number of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean.
He said Guyana’s diversification programme is well designed to achieve its objectives and with his firms assistance he is positive that the deliverables will be achieved.
IDB country representative, Marco Nicola, said that his agency is pleased to be associated with such a project, which will see increased revenue for the country with the successful implementation of the project.
Nicola said that the signing of the contract has paved the way for the IDB to disburse the money needed. Nicola said that the IDB has recognised the need for the development of not only the traditional sectors such as rice and sugar but also non-traditional areas such as livestock, fruits and vegetables and aquaculture for which the programme is designed.
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