GUYANA. “As we open the doors of our seventh location, let us remember that our success is not defined by the number of stores we have, but by the smiles we bring to the faces of our valued customers.”
The words of Simextra Group Chief Financial Officer Weenu Mahabir-Soekhoe at the opening of the company’s latest duty-free store at Eugene F. Correia International Airport on Saturday (17 August) summed up the independent group’s philosophy to the channel.
Mahabir-Soekhoe continued the theme, telling guests: “We look forward to continuing our journey together, making a positive impact on travellers, the local community, and the fast-growing tourism sector.”
As reported, Simextra Duty Free, part of Simextra Group*, has been operating since 2013 when it opened a ferry border store on the crossing between Suriname and Guyana. It manages a now seven-strong portfolio of border, airport and diplomatic duty-free stores in Suriname and Guyana.
Speaking to The Moodie Davitt Report, Mahabir-Soekhoe emphasised the company’s success in rising from a start-up to a multiple location travel retailer in little over a decade. She praised the vision and subsequent contribution of CEO Awien Soekhoe and COO Manish Soekhoe in identifying and seizing the market opportunity.
In her address on Saturday, Mahabir-Soekhoe also noted the company’s recent successful expansion, starting with the 2023 opening of a diplomatic duty-free shop at the Movietowne Mall in Georgetown, Guyana.
That launch, a “natural next step” for the company in terms of diversifying its reach, is part of a strategic expansion that complements Simextra’s already extensive network, she noted.
The Movietowne store, which boasts a contemporary design and a premium product offer, has emerged as a standout in Simextra’s portfolio, Mahabir-Soekhoe said.
Simextra is dedicated to evolving in line market demands and consistently raising the standard of duty-free shopping in Guyana, she concluded. ✈
* Note: Simextra Group, founded in Suriname in 1994 by K Soekhoe, comprises four main business units – Simextra Duty-Free, Simextra International in Suriname and Simextra Trading in Guyana – which both focus on local market importing, wholesale and distribution – and XEEN, which retails premium fashion brands at key locations.
