ExxonMobil and its Stabroek Block partners, Hess Corporation, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited recently launched the Agriculture and Innovation Entrepreneurship Programme (AIEP), injecting US$4.5 million into the heart of hydroponics farming across Regions Two, Five, and 10. The project aims to furnish over 300 youths with opportunities to advance their experience in sustainable agribusinesses.
Unveiled amidst the vibrancy of the Agri-Investment Forum and Expo which ran for three days at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre, Liliendaal last weekend, this audacious project stands as a testimony to innovation, profitability, and a democratic distribution of opportunities amongst the youth. “We will be linking the output of this project directly to the markets…This project enables our young people to develop their skills in marketing, packaging, and promotion. They are not just growing crops but they are part of the ownership and profits. And they are part of the success story of these facilities,” President Dr. Mohamed Irfaan Ali passionately articulated prior to the launch on the same day.
At the crossroads where technology meets tradition, the AIEP is primed to be a nexus of skill development, embedding entrepreneurial tenets like marketing, packaging, and promotion into the DNA of the next generation of agricultural stalwarts. A strong emphasis has been placed on the immersive involvement of beneficiaries, inviting them to be instrumental architects of Guyana’s burgeoning agri-food ecosystem.
Amid the resonating echoes of progress, Alistair Routledge, President of ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, underscored the conglomerate’s unwavering commitment to propelling Guyana towards the zenith of its agricultural prowess. “ExxonMobil Guyana Limited, Hess Guyana Exploration Limited, and CNOOC Petroleum Guyana Limited are proud that our contributions in Guyana involve much more than delivering revenues from oil and gas.
“We are committed to supporting capacity development, fostering sustainable economic diversification, and creating healthy prosperous communities,” he affirmed.
Guyana Standard understands that the foregoing undertaking for Guyana’s hydroponics sector is being funded by the Greater Guyana Initiative.
The Greater Guyana Initiative, led by the Stabroek Block co-venturers is expected to support GY$20 billion of capacity development programmes across Guyana over the next 10 years.
With a focus on education and training, economic development and health, the initiative aims to strengthen the Guyanese workforce, increase the competitiveness of local businesses across sectors and lay the foundation necessary for a thriving business environment and sustained economic growth.
