Small businesses to tap US$200M interest-free lifeline through Development Bank – Jagdeo(Kaieteur News) – The government of Guyana (GoG) is aiming to launch a Development Bank next year, aimed at helping small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) access finance to either start or expand their ideas. Jagdeo told reporters that the rollout will see an initial investment of US$200 million by the GoG which will constitute interest-free capital to SMEs. He told members of the private sector that in addition to the Development Bank, a technical team was working on modernising the local banking sector. Already, I have the technical team working with government to have, by next week, the draft proposal on a Development Bank as we have promised. “We have to be able, in the shortest time frame, to ensure every Guyanese have a bank account.