THE Housing Ministry’s Building and Construction Exposition 2013 is set for July 5 to 7 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, when much focus will be placed on new and innovative approaches in the construction sector, so that consumers will have a wider array of choices.

Minister of Housing and Water, Irfaan Ali said that this exposition has taken on a life of its own and is much anticipated by Guyanese citizens, especially the private sector.
He explained that this year, the ministry was planning to skip the event, but the private sector has indicated its readiness for another expo. Many private sector companies have already budgeted for their participation in this event.
As such, the ministry has commenced the necessary preparatory work for the staging of another successful building expo.
With this year’s event, the ministry will be looking at consolidating the various partnerships that it has established, with a view to securing and ensuring sustainable development.
Minister Ali said that the building and construction sector is playing a key role in the expansion of Guyana’s economy and is contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Moreover, it has created many of employment opportunities and allowed for skilled personnel to be actively utilised within the country’s economy.
The minister explained, “One of the major issues that we faced in the construction sector last year is the changing demands for traditional construction materials…there was a period last year when we had shortages of various types of building materials”.
Speaking about some of the direct benefits that have accrued from previous building expos, the minister spoke of the successes of one particular individual who is in the business of making concrete moldings.
When the first building expo was held in 2010, this individual approached the ministry and requested a space to showcase his trade. At that time he couldn’t even afford to pay for a booth, but the ministry granted him a small space notwithstanding.
By the following year, when the second expo was held, this same individual had his own tent and even indicated that he wanted to become a corporate sponsor, as his business had been transformed into one that is in the tens of millions category.
From the building expo, this businessman was able to secure contracts from the private sector and at present, one of his contracts is valued at over $10M.
This is just one of the many success stories of ordinary people who started as sole traders and small entrepreneurs. Consumers, too, have benefitted significantly from lucrative deals and special discounts at the building expo.
The inaugural building and construction expo was held in August 2010. It is an event that brings together home owners, prospective home owners and entities from the construction, manufacturing and services sectors.
The event also attracts exhibitors from the Region and farther afield, such as the United States, Canada, Russia and China. (GINA)