Guyana’s first commercial shipment of UMAMI-manufactured products to Qatar has left the country, with Guyana’s Ambassador to Qatar Safraaz Ahmad Shadood describing the export as the “first of many” containers expected to carry locally produced goods to the Gulf.

The shipment of Guyanese-made sauces, seasonings and condiments is destined for LuLu Hypermarket in Abu Sidra, Qatar, following the official launch there last September 8. 

The company in a statement yesterday said that since the market launch in Doha last month, the first container has now sailed from Guyana as Agriculture Month 2026 gets underway.

It quoted Ambassador Shadood as saying that the shipment represents a significant development for Guyanese manufacturing as he encouraged other local manufacturers that meet the requirements for entry into Middle Eastern markets to pursue similar opportunities.

The ambassador, according to the statement, also pointed to the role of Guyana’s embassy in Qatar in facilitating the opportunity, saying its economic diplomacy efforts helped secure interest in Guyanese-produced goods.

The statement further quoted President Irfaan Ali as saying the shipment demonstrated the conversion of economic opportunities into actual trade and that the focus should now be on increasing the volume of Guyanese products moving through those markets. 

LuLu Global Director Dr Mohamed Althaf said the retailer was partnering with UMAMI to introduce its products to consumers in Qatar and described the first commercial shipment as an opportunity to expand trade cooperation between Guyana and the Gulf region.

UMAMI Managing Director Chris Persaud said LuLu has given the company an opportunity to showcase its work on an international platform. “There is a special sense of pride in seeing a container leave Guyana knowing that what is inside was manufactured here, by Guyanese people, and will ultimately carry our country’s name onto international supermarket shelves,” he expressed. 

Persaud had earlier shared that this development shows that Guyana’s export potential extends beyond the shipment of primary commodities, with local manufacturers capable of adding value to agricultural resources, producing finished goods and building brands for international markets. “Guyana has tremendous opportunities beyond exporting primary commodities. We can add value to what we grow and produce, manufacture world-class finished products in Guyana, build Guyanese brands, and export those brands internationally,” he said. 

Qatar’s diverse population, Persaud said, presents an opportunity for the brand, given that consumers come from the Middle East, Asia, Africa, the Caribbean and other parts of the world. However, he acknowledged that establishing a sustained presence in the market will require more than securing shelf space.

Umami plans to build consumer awareness, support promotions and tastings and assess which products perform best, with the aim of generating repeat purchases and establishing a long-term presence in the region.