The Guyana Development Bank is preparing to extend zero-interest loans of approximately $14,400 to small and medium-sized enterprises, contingent on formal business registration.
The initiative is outlined in the draft Guyana Development Bank Bill 2026, which was recently published in the Official Gazette.
The program aims to incentivize formalization among small firms that have historically operated outside the regulated financial system.
Access to the funding is strictly limited to registered businesses, creating a direct incentive for informal operators to comply with regulatory requirements.
This structural shift is significant in a market where the Guyana Stock Exchange operates on a single trading day per week and relies heavily on informal transaction mechanisms.
The bank’s move represents an attempt to deepen financial inclusion and broaden the base of formal economic activity in the country.