GUYANA. Fast-growing regional travel retailer Simextra Dutu Free opened its newest duty-free shop at the Eugene F. Correia International Airport – its seventh shop in Guyana – on Saturday (17 August). The airport is located six kilometres east of Guyana’s capital city, Georgetown.

Simextra Duty Free, part of the Simexta Group*, has been active since 2013 when it opened a ferry border shop on the Suriname-Guyana border. It manages a portfolio of duty-free shops at borders, airports and diplomatic missions throughout Suriname and Guyana.

Weenu Mahabir-Soekhoe, Chief Financial Officer of Simextra Group, told the Moodie Davitt Report: “Our company wants to do more than just sell high-quality products in travel retail. We want to offer travelers unforgettable experiences.”

“By making the stores a pleasant part of customers’ journeys, the company aims to contribute to the wider tourism industry.”

Mahabir-Soekhoe highlighted that the company has grown from a start-up to a multi-location travel operator in little more than a decade. She praised the vision and contribution of CEO Awien Soekhoe and COO Manish Soekhoe, who have identified and capitalized on market opportunities.

We will share more details on this story shortly. ✈

* Note: Founded in 1994 by K. Soekhoe in Suriname, Simextra Group consists of four main business units – Simextra Duty-Free, Simextra International in Suriname and Simextra Trading in Guyana – both of which focus on importing, wholesaling and distribution for the local market – and XEEN, which distributes premium fashion brands in key locations.