Women’s Chamber calls for more gender-responsive procurement

The Women’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry has called for a more gender-responsive procurement system to boost women’s participation in business and advance gender equality within the sector.
Speaking on Ignite News Budget in Focus, Chamber President Josephine Tapp pointed to improvements in mechanisms supporting women-owned enterprises and their participation in the workforce.

“We would wanna see some gender responsive procurement, something we see eventually coming out of the government’s long term plan,” Tapp said.
She also welcomed the Ministry of Social Services’ gender equality seal, urging additional incentives to strengthen the initiative, which promotes greater involvement of women in employment and business.

Meanwhile, President of the Berbice Chamber of Commerce, Samantha Reid, described Budget 2026 as transformational, highlighting its support for women in business and small enterprise development as central to sectoral growth.
“The economic development that is gonna derive from such a transformational budget is astounding…the economic stability it will create, the small businesses that’s gonna get enhanced help and the communities that’s gonna foster growth and development, this budget caters for everyone,” Reid said.

Presented under the theme “Putting people first,” Budget 2026 has been widely described as people-centred, drawing praise from private sector groups for initiatives aimed at strengthening small, medium, and large enterprises while addressing the needs of citizens.