ALL is set for Guyana’s largest local trade and investment exposition which opens today, promising to be a packed event with ‘a total difference’ this year.

Work ongoing at the main entrance to the exhibition site

The highly-anticipated GuyExpo 2009 to be hosted at its traditional venue, the National Exhibition Centre at Sophia, Georgetown, under the theme ‘Promoting Business in a Low Carbon Environment”, runs until October 6.

Speaking to the Guyana Chronicle yesterday at his South Road office , Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manniram Prashad, said that everything is set and well-organised for Guyexpo 2009.

He said there are more than 250 booths, noting, “This year’s exposition is one with a difference. It is almost transformed completely in the sense of what we have to offer this year.”

He said in the annex there will be 96 craft producers’ booths which have been built to specification and standards so as to ensure easy access and flow for patrons to view the products on display.

Minister Prashad said that in the main pavilion, for the first time ever, there are international booths.

He said there are about close to 100 of such booths in the main pavilion and the international pavilion.

Finishing touches are put on at a booth.

“The whole exhibition is taking things to another level and importantly also for the first time ever, we will be having an international food court,” he disclosed.

Prashad said a wide variety of cuisine will be available, including Brazilian, Malaysian, Chinese, Indian and Jamaican.

He said small carts and such will be prohibited around the compound and strict security will be made available to monitor such activities; the whole Guyexpo compound is” well laid out” with a new stage and washroom facilities up to date.

“The entire exhibition area has been transformed and there are more open spaces for people to sit and relax,” he told this newspaper.

He said Mike Charles will be showcasing different aspects of Guyana, and also there will be a surprise exhibition for Guyana’s ambitious Low Carbon Development Strategy (LCDS).

He acknowledged the five main sponsors: Banks DIH, Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL), Ansa McAl, Digicel and Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T).

Assuring that there will be a host of activities for the entire family, Prashad underscored that there will be lots of activities for children to indulge in, with Banks DIH putting up a ‘fun park’.

He said Guyexpo will have a host of new things happening, and in keeping with the objective of showcasing Guyana’s excellence and local produce for export, a seminar will be conducted tomorrow, in collaboration with Guyana Office for Investment (GO-INVEST) and the Private Sector, during which exhibitors and investors from the Caribbean and further a field will be briefed on Guyana’s business climate and how to do business here.

He said this seminar will draw about 100 participants from overseas, from St. Lucia, Barbados, Jamaica, India, China, Suriname, Venezuela, Brazil and South Africa.

In terms of security arrangements, the committee has been working with the police to ensure that all arrangements are in place, and also traffic arrangements have been made with Duncan and Garnett Streets being used for going into the exhibition site, and Dennis Street for leaving, to ensure that traffic flows easily.

Against this backdrop, he said that Caribbean Airlines is sponsoring a free ticket every night, to any part of the Caribbean or South America, and so patrons are asked to retain their half tickets for a chance to win a free trip, with the drawing on stage every night between 22:00h and 23:00h.

The major trade show, which was inaugurated in 1995, aims to create the 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 further afield.