THE 7th Annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair 2011 will kick off today at the Albion Sports Complex in Berbice, Region 6 (East Berbice/Corentyne) at 16:00hrs and is projected to be more entertaining, exciting and enticing. The official opening ceremony will begin at 17:00hrs and will be attended by officials from the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce; the Regional Administration, and the private and public sectors. 
According to the President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), Imran Hamid, this event, celebrated under the theme ‘Promoting Agri Businesses and Tourism’, will be  staged from July 22 to 25, and  will feature over 200 exhibitors displaying their products.
“We are completely booked up; as a matter of fact we have people on standby for this expo,” he explained.
As to the preparations for the opening ceremony, he noted that the organizers are 90 percent ahead of schedule and are working round the clock to ensure that everything is in place for the spectators and participants when they arrive.
As promised during the launching ceremony in June, the CCCC President confirmed that the crowd will be regaled and entertained by live bands every night, delicious food to eat, games to play and much more for the entire family to enjoy.
He has given his assurance that the patrons and exhibitors will also benefit from tightened security at the expo grounds.
He said, “Security will be at its maximum, in addition to the ranks of the Guyana Police Force that will be on site, we will also have private security at the event, so that everyone coming to support this Expo will feel safe.”
“The weather is beautiful, and I would like to encourage persons from across Guyana to come to this event and to see what we have to offer; if you are not here, then you will definitely be missing something,” he encouraged.
Region 6 Chairman, Zulfikar Mustapha, reiterated that patrons would indeed witness a spectacular display by local businesses, manufacturers, arts and craft producers, and businesses in the services sector.
“This is a very successful event that we have organized here in Berbice. It has seen tremendous growth over the years and it will be even more successful this year,” he said.
He expressed the hope that persons will recognize the true beauty and potential of the county, and arrive in their numbers to participate in the activity, which has also gained international recognition since it started six years ago.
Mustapha reassured those who are travelling from far distances that there is enough accommodation available for them.
The Berbice Expo and Trade Fair is part of the Ministry of Tourism’s calendar of events, and people both locally and internationally now look forward to it; many Guyanese plan their vacation around this time as well.
Berbice is now becoming a centerpiece of attraction with more persons, including foreigners, investing there, and with the tremendous infrastructural developments in that county, such as the Berbice River Bridge, it has become more accessible to all.
Sponsors of the event include  the Ministry of Agriculture, the Regional Administration, Comfort Sleep, Republic Bank, Banks DIH Limited, Nand Persaud and Company Limited, Guyana Telephone and Telegraph (GT&T), Digicel, Caribbean International Distributor Inc. and Beharry Group of Companies.