MINISTER of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, promising that this year’s GuyExpo is definitely going to be huge, noted that the response so far has been overwhelming.

The biggest local trade and investment exposition, GuyExpo 2009 is scheduled for the National Exhibition Centre at Sophia, Georgetown from September 24 to 29, under the theme ‘Promoting Business in a Low Carbon Environment’.

Speaking to the media last week at his South Road, Georgetown office, he said, “The response has been overwhelming even though we are restricting the number of booth spaces people can get.”

Minister Prashad explained that some people are requesting four and five booths but, “we want to make sure we expose as much as possible”.

Noting that the response has been very good from both local and overseas participants, he hinted that, “Maybe we need a bigger place”.

GuyExpo, from what we are seeing, has outgrown the venue, even though it is big,” Minister Prashad observed.

At its launching last month, Minister Prashad had reported that to date about 15 countries have indicated their intention to participate and apart from Caribbean countries and India, China and Singapore, which participated in the last GuyExpo, there are signals from Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Suriname as well.

In keeping with the objective of showcasing Guyana’s excellence and local produce for export, a seminar will be conducted prior to GuyExpo, in collaboration with Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST), during which exhibitors and investors from the Caribbean and further afield will be briefed on Guyana’s business climate and how to do business here.

The planning committee for GuyExpo 2009 comprises representatives of Government and State agencies and the Private Sector.

The major trade show which was inaugurated in 1995 aims at creating an enabling environment for businesses to develop and grow by advertising locally produced goods and services to local and foreign investors.

It has since grown vastly in attendance, participation and scope, and has become a national calendar event, attracting interest from the Caribbean and farther afield.