PREPARATIONS for the highly anticipated GuyExpo 2012 are in full swing as Guyana’s premier trade fair and investment show looms closer. This year’s exhibition, launched under the theme ‘Strengthening the Traditional, Embracing the New’, promises to provide the perfect platform to showcase local businesses and investment opportunities.
As such, the GuyExpo Planning Committee, led by Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Irfaan Ali, has already initiated plans to ensure that all expectations are met.
This year’s exhibition will see many changes, including an earlier starting time, as committee members have announced that, following the official opening ceremony at 18:00 hours on Thursday September 27th, the gates will be opened to the public from 15:00 hrs to 23:00hrs on Friday, and from 13:00hrs to 23:00 hrs on Saturday and Sunday.
Moreover, there will be a “Buyer’s time” set aside for investors and businessmen, allowing for a specific period when business persons will be able to interact with exhibitors prior to the official opening time. This interaction time was recommended to be at least 2 hours before the gates are opened, to facilitate buyers’ interests.
The Committee also decided that, in an effort to reduce the noise levels at the show, more steel pan music, drumming and other indigenous forms of entertainment will be encouraged at lower volumes.
Minister Ali also proposed that the Expo should be used as a platform to promote the ‘Jagdeo Initiative’, a strategy for removing constraints to development of agriculture in the Caribbean, and build upon past regional efforts to develop a common agricultural policy.
Despite the small changes, Public Relations Manager of the GuyExpo Committee, Mr. Indranauth Haralsingh, assured that the event will still maintain its “flavour” while holding true to its primary aim of facilitating trade and investment.
He also noted that over 100 exhibitors have so far registered for this year’s event, which is anticipated to attract even more participants and exhibitors.
These decisions followed an inspection exercise conducted by Minister Ali and committee members at the Sophia Exhibition Site, on Saturday July 14th.
Committee members agreed that there will be several changes to the site layout, and continual inspection exercises will be performed as the countdown begins for the grand opening on September 27th.
“We want to ensure that this year’s event will exceed all expectations. This is the ultimate showcase of the business community — investment opportunities and the future of the country. We are placing greater emphasis on highlighting our Guyanese products, with the aim of attracting international buyers rather than suppliers,” the Tourism Minister explained.
GuyExpo 2012 was officially launched on March 30th under the theme ‘Strengthening the Traditional, Embracing the New”, and will be staged from September 27th to 30th.
During the launching ceremony, Minister Ali announced that stronger focus will be placed on the development of small and medium-sized businesses, and the formation of linkages not only locally, but with regional and extra-regional markets.
The Minister also noted that GuyExpo 2012 will target regional and international markets. “Before the GuyExpo, we will have a business seminar, and are hoping to have investors — buyers from international markets — coming to be part of the event.”
GuyExpo, which began in 1995, is now a national event and takes a permanent place on the calendar of events of the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
This premier exposition and trade fair offers businesses mutual opportunity to meet, network and negotiate with international companies and establishments; as well as showcase their skills, talents and creative works.