– ‘Transformation: Partnering for a Better Guyana’

Guyana’s largest Trade and Investment Exposition, GuyExpo, will be held this year from 2nd to 5th October. This event, which began in 1995 and showcases locally produced goods and services, became an annual event in 2004 and is now the longest sustained exhibition in the Caribbean. In that year, the organisers noted the growth and interdependence of international trade and opened the exhibition to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and other regional exhibitors.

GuyExpo is now a national event and takes a permanent place on the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce’s Annual Calendar of Events.
Through GuyExpo, stronger focus is placed on the development of small and medium sized enterprises, which ensures that local businesses enjoy the level of growth and expansion that is needed for them to remain competitive at the regional and international levels.

Both new and returning exhibitors recognise that participation at GuyExpo is one of the best ways to expose their business and to have the opportunity to display and showcase their products and services face-to-face with potential new customers in their target market, thereby giving them numerous benefits and advantages.

One of the major focus at this Trade show is about creating linkages; many businesses see this as a platform and they return, while many have started as micro business, have expanded and no longer participate. Scores have benefitted in this way.
Patrons also walk into the venue already very interested in various products and services. This is their very rare chance to be face-to-face with the decision makers.
At this year’s GuyExpo, some 400 exhibitors, 70 overseas delegates and over 100,000 local and overseas visitors are expected, during the four days of the expo. According to the organisers, a company, product or service will be exposed to over 2000 persons per hour!

These prospective clients are able to interact with businesses in an environment that is comfortable and friendly.

GuyExpo 2014 has attracted overseas participants coming from various countries including Argentina, Bangladesh, Barbados, Brazil French Guiana, India, Pakistan, Trinidad and Tobago, United States of America (USA) and Suriname.

In short, the event plays an integral role in the exhibitors’ marketing mix, while serving as a driving force behind the economy, taking into account the need to have merging markets.

As part of the activities this year, Go-Invest in partnership with the GuyExpo Planning Committee will be hosting a Business Investment Forum from 9:30 hrs -12:00 hrs, and a Business Networking Forum from 13:00 hrs -16:00 hrs at the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) on October 3rd.
Here there will be presentations from Go-Invest on incentives as well as presentations from leaders in other sectors including Agriculture, Tourism and ICT.

Already there has been feedback from countries including French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados that are interested in finding products for export. These linkages will be facilitated at the Networking Forum and if businesses are not present at this time, they have another opportunity to meet at the Expo in a designated meeting area.

There are many success stories in relation to how local businesses have been able to take advantage of the linkages GuyExpo has created, and the impact of Guyana’s premier trade fair is reflected in a number of exhibitors, overseas and local, that continue to participate and the thousands of patrons that flock the exhibition site for this event.

With the good management of past exhibitions, the annual event is now self-sufficient, and much improved, as the Government in collaboration with the private sector has raised the expo to the standard it is at today, boasting new features, themed pavilions, quality exhibits and wholesome entertainment.