…trade fair billed for March

THE Linden Enterprise Network in collaboration with the Linden Chamber of Commerce and various stakeholders on Tuesday officially launched the Linden Trade and Investment Fair under the theme “Linden, the gateway for investment and opportunities, a window to future development.” The launch saw in attendance several members of the committee that was established to organise and coordinate the fair. In previous years, the fair was a signature event of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, but this year the Linden Enterprise Network has come on board as the main sponsor of the fair.

Coordinator of the Committee, Staydon Payne said the fair is slated for the 24th- 26th March at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Center. Its aim is to provide aid and exposure to current and potential business and to also invite foreign investors to establish businesses in Linden. The Committee has engaged several partners, including the Regional Democratic Council, Mayor and Town Council, several stake holders within Linden, such as Banks DIH, Courts Guyana Ltd, Citizens Banks, Republic Bank, Go-Invest and Guyana Geology and Mines Commission.

Payne revealed that the fair will commence with a workshop that is geared towards business development while the other sessions will include the exhibitions of the various entrepreneurs and investors, in addition to an entertainment segment and a river tour of the heritage trail.

Chief Executive Officer of the Linden Enterprise Network, Mrs. Tandika Miller, spoke of the need to collaborate and succeed in this venture through team effort and this is the main reason why LEN came on board. She urged Lindeners to come out and support the event as the development of Linden is everyone’s business. “If we succeed in every area, the region will succeed, we are approaching this thing as a team and a belief that this year, as long as we go forward as a team, Linden is going to move forward,” Miller posited, adding that the events are also family oriented and entertaining. The main aim however is to provide all the needed information to current and potential investors to establish their business or to expand.

Mayor of Linden, Carwyn Holland encouraged Lindeners to get ready for new investments that will come to Linden and to be ready. He revealed that several established investors have expressed interest in investing in Linden and as such the event will play a pivotal role in the birthing of their visions. Holland said that with investment the standard of living will rise and development will increase and this will in turn boost the morale of the people. “For too long we have been looking in the direction of Bosai, it is time we look at those hidden areas, those untapped areas, let us work together to develop this great town…let us make Linden great again.”

Similar sentiments were echoed by Regional Chairman, Renis Morian, who stressed that Lindeners must analyse and internalise what has been the missing link to investment in Linden. He spoke of the soon to commence Linden to Lethem road, the untapped tourism potential and the need to exploit these and to move beyond the rhetoric. “This must not be another exercise in futility but this must be an exercise that at the end of it we can measure our successes.”

President of the Linden Chamber of Commerce, Kevin Deyoung, who officially launched the fair encouraged Lindeners to unite on the journey to economic success as this is the only way forward. He revealed that this year’s exposition will see the creativity of the LCC and the industriousness of LEN. Some of the sectors that will be targeted at this year’s exposition are tourism, mining, agro processing and construction.