Guyana's retail sector is set to receive a major boost as UNICOMER, the owner of COURTS stores in the country, announced plans to construct a US$33 million retail center called River Place commercial plaza. The plaza, which will be built on land owned by Caribbean Container Inc., will feature restaurants, a gym, and stores such as COURTS Mega Store, Ashley Home Store, and COURTS Optical Store. The project is funded by the Inter-American Development Bank and is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. In addition to the retail center, UNICOMER also has plans to build a hotel in Guyana, although the cost of the project has not yet been determined. Over the next 12 months, UNICOMER will open four more branches in Guyana, bringing the total number of stores in the country to 29. Furthermore, UNICOMER is undertaking the construction of a 110,000 square-foot logistics park in Houston, East Bank Demerara, which is expected to have a transformative impact on the development of the area. The Minister of Tourism, Industry, and Commerce, Oneidge Walrond, also mentioned the upcoming launch of the Single Window, a system that will streamline the permit process and reduce the need for ministerial interventions. [5740f07c]