SGCC Webinar Highlights the Importance of Responsible AI Readiness for Businesses

August 28, 2026•4 min read

Georgetown, Guyana/Paramaribo, Suriname - 28 August 2026: The Suriname-Guyana Chamber of Commerce (SGCC) hosted its webinar, “AI Readiness: Growing Your Business Responsibly and Effectively,” on Friday, 21 August 2026, bringing together 40+ participants from the business community for an engaging discussion on artificial intelligence, business readiness and the opportunities emerging across the Suriname-Guyana corridor.

The session brought together SGCC leadership and industry experts, with contributions from Ms. Saudia Persaud, SGCC CEO Ag.; Dr. Alista Bishop, SGCC Director; Mr. Navin Gangaram-Panday, SGCC Vice Chairman; and Ms. Minoushi Filemon, SGCC Country Lead (Suriname). The programme also featured expert presentations by Mrs. Jenny Ramautarsing, Managing Director of GDM Management Consulting, and Mr. Brian Imambaks, Founder of Technovate, followed by a live Q&A moderated by Ms. Filemon.

Understanding the Business Landscape in Suriname and Guyana

The webinar opened with an overview of SGCC and perspectives on the evolving business environments in both countries. Dr. Alista Bishop provided insights into Guyana’s business landscape and its rapid economic expansion, while Mr. Navin Gangaram-Panday discussed Suriname’s improving macroeconomic outlook and the opportunities emerging ahead of the country’s offshore oil development.

Ms. Saudia Persaud also provided an overview of SGCC’s role in deepening bilateral trade, unlocking investment and strengthening private-sector growth across the Suriname-Guyana corridor.

AI Is Becoming Business Infrastructure

A key message from the session was that AI is rapidly becoming part of the infrastructure of modern businesses. As organizations adopt AI across different functions, competitive advantage will increasingly depend not only on access to technology, but on how responsibly and strategically it is implemented.

The expert presentation emphasized that “AI is inevitable. Responsible AI is intentional.” Businesses therefore need to approach AI as a strategic capability that requires appropriate leadership, governance, people, data and infrastructure.

From AI Readiness to Business Value

AI readiness goes beyond simply introducing new technology. Businesses were encouraged to identify where AI can create measurable value and integrate it directly into existing workflows, including HR, finance, procurement, customer service, compliance and operations.

When properly integrated, AI can contribute to reduced cycle times, improved customer experiences, better decision-making, lower operating costs and greater competitiveness. The focus should ultimately be on business outcomes rather than AI usage itself.

Governance Is Critical to Responsible AI

The webinar also highlighted that the benefits of AI come with risks. Without appropriate governance, businesses may face challenges including privacy breaches, inaccurate AI outputs, bias, cybersecurity threats, regulatory non-compliance and loss of trust.

Governance was presented not as a barrier to innovation, but as a mechanism for managing risk and enabling businesses to adopt AI with greater confidence. The discussion introduced ISO/IEC 42001 as an important framework for establishing, managing and continuously improving an organization’s AI management system.

A Practical Roadmap for Businesses

For organizations looking to begin or strengthen their AI journey, the presenters outlined a practical sequence: assess AI readiness, establish governance, implement ISO/IEC 42001 principles, deploy AI within business processes, and continuously monitor and improve.

The underlying message was clear: businesses should not rush into AI adoption without first understanding their readiness, risks and governance requirements. A structured approach can help organizations move from experimentation toward responsible implementation and sustainable business value.

SGCC Perspective

The strong participation in the webinar reflects the growing interest among businesses in understanding how emerging technologies can influence competitiveness, efficiency and long-term growth.

For businesses across Suriname and Guyana, AI presents significant opportunities to improve operations and decision-making, but realizing those opportunities will require more than technology alone. Building the right governance structures, strengthening organizational readiness and ensuring responsible implementation will be essential as AI becomes increasingly embedded in business processes.

Through platforms such as this webinar, SGCC continues to connect businesses with relevant expertise and practical insights while supporting greater awareness of emerging opportunities across the Suriname-Guyana business corridor.

Key Takeaway: AI is inevitable. Governance determines wheth

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:

Guyana Office:

Mrs. Saudia Persaud, SGCC CEO Ag.: [email protected] | [email protected] | +592-629-7374 | +592-703-0020

Suriname Office:

Ms. Minoushi Filemon, SGCC Country Lead (Suriname): [email protected] | +597-746-0020

Website: www.surguychamber.org

Disclaimer: These findings came from research, and SGCC will not be liable for misinformation originating from external sources.

For further information or media inquiries, please contact:

Guyana Office (English-speaking)
+592-703-0020 | [email protected]

Suriname Office (Dutch & English-speaking)
+592-746-0020 | [email protected]