– Exhibition opens tomorrow and runs until October 6
Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad met with exhibitors participating in GuyExpo 2009 on Monday in the main auditorium at the National Exhibition Center, Sophia.

Almost 300 exhibitors attended the seminar, making it the largest turnout ever at this type of meeting. This in itself is viewed as an indication of the huge public/private sector participation anticipated for GuyExpo this year. Local and overseas exhibitors and investors alike have indicated satisfaction with and commitment to this national event.

Constructing a booth at the exhibition site.

Minister Prashad expressed contentment with the overwhelming participation and special interest shown by exhibitors and investors.

He told the gathering that their turnout is viewed as their preparedness and confidence in Guyana’s economy.

Guyana’s largest trade and investment exposition, GuyExpo started nine years ago. It began in 1995 as a bi-annual event hosted by the Guyana Office for Investment (GOINVEST), the Guyana Manufacturers’ Association (GMA) and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.

This event showcased locally produced goods and services and became annual in 2004; it is the longest sustained exhibition in the Caribbean. In the same year, noting the growth and interdependence of international trade, organizers opened the exhibition to the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and other regional exhibitor participation.

The last GuyExpo in 2007 attracted over 70,000 patrons, in addition to special invitees and guests. The event attracted over three hundred exhibitors, consisting of both local and overseas participants that displayed a wide range of products, craft and services. Exhibitors came from Barbados, India, China, Brazil and Jamaica, among other countries.

GuyExpo is now a National Event and takes a permanent place on the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce’s annual calendar of Events. This trade and investment event was originally held in July, and then shifted to August and later to September. It is now held for the first time in the month of October.

This premier exposition and trade fair offers business associates to meet, network and negotiate with international companies and establishments, as well as showcase their skills, talents and creative works. It will be hosted from October 1st – 6th under the theme “Promoting Business in a Low Carbon Environment”.

This annual event provides a platform for both local and foreign businesses: importers, exporters, retailers, wholesalers. It fuses together a wide cross-section of producers of handicraft, furniture, garments, jewellery, horticulture, pharmaceuticals, tourism, information technology and most of all, our culture. This ideal setting provides the opportunity for businesses to increase their competitiveness, efficiencies and to foster growth.

GuyExpo is undertaken as a partnership among the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, GOINVEST and the private sector; exhibitors, franchise holders, game operators and entertainers play a major role in the overall success of the event.

The GuyExpo Planning Committee and Secretariat, under the stewardship of Minister Prashad and Co-Chairman Derrick Cummings, established a plan of action which will result in GuyExpo 2009 being one of the best ever.