-pledges continued support in the years ahead
A NUMBER of financial institutions, among them Republic Bank, have signalled they will be participating in Building Expo 2, now in its second consecutive year and touted as “a celebration of Guyana’s dynamic growth and expansion in the building and construction industry.” According to Housing and Water Minister, Mr. Irfaan Ali, under whose purview the trade fair falls: “Some of the banks have already started announcing special packages that will be launched at Building Expo 2…”
Republic Bank Marketing Manager, Michelle Johnson gave as their reason for coming onboard the exposition again this year is recognition that there is a certain hunger aboard for information, particularly where banking is concerned. 
“We recognize that education is something very important; we are looking forward to coming again this year, and bringing a wealth of information. In fact, what we have seen from last year’s expo was that customers were hungry for information on how to obtain a loan as it relates to the specifications and the different stages.”
This being the case, among key information they will be offering this time around, she said, is a comprehensive guide as to how to apply for a mortgage.
“There is no other offer that is better; we have the lowest rates, as low as 4.25 per cent,” Johnson said, adding: “We always say that ‘We are the one for you,’ and a warm welcome awaits anyone at the building expo who comes.”
Pledging the institution’s continued support in ensuring the venture continues to grow and thrive, Johnson said: “The Guyanese community is really excited about this [the building exposition], as a lot of people did not realize that owning a home was something that was possible to them. And through this new housing drive, a lot of people have new hope and excitement…We look forward again this year to being a part of building expo.”
To date, an approximate 105 companies have shown an interest in participating in this year’s event, including some 15 from overseas, and according to the latest word from the Ministry of Housing and Water, the exposition has not only stirred an interest in the construction and engineering sectors, but also among entities related to housing development.
Many of the participating companies are reportedly well advanced with their preparations for the event, being hosted this year under the theme: ‘Bridging the Gap- Transforming Guyana’ at the National Stadium from July 29-31.
According to Minister Ali, an event of this nature tends to bring together all stakeholders in building and construction, from the block-maker to the landscaper, with the vision of making it the premier building and construction exposition not just in the Caribbean but Latin America as well.          
What’s more, he said, it also provides the perfect opportunity for young entrepreneurs, hardware businesses, building and construction companies, the commercial banks, the service providers and the consumers to meet in a casual manner and interact and build lasting relationships.
The benefits, he said, are twofold: “Businesses will have the opportunity to introduce their products and to expand operations, and the consumers, in turn, will benefit from the wealth of knowledge available to them.”