-some fear ‘killing off’ of micro operators in garment sector

The continuing influx of Chinese traders into Guyana has evoked mixed reactions from government, local business enterprises and consumers, all of whom have had something to say about the impact of their advent on the retail trade, particularly in clothing and apparel.

A Chinese retail outlet in the city.

The most robust reaction so far has come from owners of downtown retail outlets, clothing vendors and small garment manufacturers many of whom are ‘dead set’ against what one Regent Street retailer described as “a Chinese invasion.” On the whole, local traders in clothing and apparel regard the growing presence of the Chinese traders as a competitive threat which they will be hard-pressed to cope with. While none of the established businesses with whom this newspaper spoke were prepared to publicly assume an anti-Chinese posture, none was prepared to accord them much more than a grudging accommodation.

Those Regent Street clothing and accessories traders with whom Stabroek Business spoke said that they are already beginning to feel the impact of the presence of the Chinese competition. “They have access to cheap goods from factories in China and their prices are low. We import from the US and elsewhere. We cannot compete,” one Regent street businessman told this newspaper. Other traders concurred pointing out that clothing and accessories manufactured in China benefit from low labour costs.

“I am concerned about their numbers,” another downtown businessman told Stabroek Business. “I honestly believe that a new Chinese establishment opens in this city every week.” Recent perusal of Georgetown turned up at least a dozen Chinese enterprises most of them offering the same items for sale. The increased demand for storefront property has reportedly pushed rental prices up and most vacated trading premises are quickly occupied by Chinese merchants.

Chinese manufactured clothing and other goods are no longer a novelty in Guyana. Their clothing, particularly, has become particularly popular on the local market. Abbie, a local seamstress says that, these days, casual clothing sold by Chinese merchants, have all of the decorative and style characteristics of clothing imported from the USA. “The difference is that the Chinese sell cheaper and everybody is looking for a better deal.” The Chinese, Abbie says, are also threatening the small operators in the garment manufacturing industry. “People like me,” she says. “They are bringing in attractive dresses and shirts. These days people buy clothing from Chinese shops to wear to weddings.”

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