Guyana - Distribution and Sales ChannelsGuyana - Distribution & Sales
Distribution and sales are done through a network of road, air, maritime, warehousing, freight forwarders, and distribution networks. Cheddi Jagan International Airport at Timehri, approximately 25 miles south of Georgetown, handles most international passenger and air freight traffic. Cheddi Jagan is currently undergoing a major renovation of all facilities, which will help move goods more quickly into and out of Guyana. Ogle Airport, five miles east of Georgetown, handles some regional and international passenger service. Recent expansion and enhancement projects have increased Ogle’s ability to attract a larger share of regional travel. Most travel into the interior originates at Ogle, particularly travel tied to extractive industries, such as gold mining. The country’s major port is located in Georgetown, with minor ports at New Amsterdam, Corriverton, and Linden. Information on shipping lines serving Guyana, their agents, and terminals is available from the Shipping Association of Guyana.
Due to the small size of the local market, most U.S. firms prefer to use a local agent or distributor. Violation of the rights of exclusive distributors continues to be a commonly experienced problem. Small Guyanese "traders" regularly travel abroad and purchase wholesale quantities of packaged consumer goods, often choosing second-rate, misleading brands or nearly expired products from discount outlets. These products are subsequently sold through Guyana's extensive network of virtually unregulated small shops. This practice often undercuts exclusive distribution rights granted to distributors by the manufacturer. It negatively affects the brand image of a product line when customers associate unauthorized or expired products with the legitimate brand name. Unfortunately, no effective institutional recourse to protect the rights of authorized distributors currently exists in Guyana.