PRESIDENT of the Central Corentyne Chambers of Commerce(CCCC), Mr. Leekha Rambrich, has promised that business would not be as usual for the  upcoming Berbice Exposition and Trade Fair, as the calendar event will be of a higher standard, and will not have the usual ‘buying and selling’, as was seen over the past four to five years.

“To boost the event, we have sent an invitation to the Guyana Manufacturing & Services Association, through the Ministry of Tourism, in an effort for the body to have its members on board,” said Rambrich, during a brief interview with the Guyana Chronicle recently.
“This expo will not be like what you saw for the last four- five years – it will be of a higher standard. We will not have a buy and sell market anymore. We will change that; as a matter of fact, the people who are booking now we are limiting their space. We have indications from over 60 persons, some of whom have already paid for their spots. Of recent, we have had meetings with all the security services, including the Guyana Police Force, which will be tasked in beefing up security. Currently, meetings are held fortnightly, and we are expected to be in possession of the ground two weeks prior to the exposition to erect booths.”
Held under the theme ‘Raising Our standards, enhancing our competitiveness’, and slated for July 26 to 29, the signature event provides opportunities for smaller businesses to identify who the market leaders are in their respective fields, to learn from their experience, and to emulate their success.
Rambrich, highlighting the significance of the Berbice Expo and Trade Fair, said that it serves as a platform for sales, networking and negotiations, as it seeks to establish business contracts while promoting and producing services.
Recalling the Private Sector Summit in 2006, the businessman noted that it was then that the national competitiveness strategy was born, and as a result Guyana needs to surpass international standards with respect to the manufacturing of agricultural products in order to be of significance on the global market.
“Our goods and services need to be of a high quality, we must be sought after by international buyers, however to achieve this, our domestic buyers need to demand a higher quality.”

30,000 VISITORS EXPECTED
Rambrich noted that with respect to the traffic, the exposition had been improving over the years, and from an initial 15,000 visitors, some 30,000 are expected for this year’s event.
Regional Chairman, Mr. David Armogan, had observed, that over the years, while there has been an improvement, “there has been more commerce than manufacturing, and I would like to see more manufacturing products out on sale.”
He recalled when the exposition started in 2005, the larger companies from Georgetown were among the exhibitors, “but over the years, for whatever reason, there has been a decline of manufacturers, and this is something that the Chambers and the Tourism Authority should address. They must look at bringing back the big manufacturers, so that people can see the products they have.”
Comparing GuyExpo, which is another calendar event, the Region 6 Chairman observed that whenever the exhibition is being held in Georgetown, there are many more products on exhibition than those on display in the Ancient County, “so not because we are in Berbice we should not have the best, we need to do the same. We need to replicate the same, locally.”
Additionally, he stated that cross-border trade should be encouraged, in an effort to expose the locals to goods and services from neighbouring countries.
“We should enlist our Surinamese counterparts to be a part of the local trade. To some extent it has happened over the years, but it is something we should promote more.”
Meanwhile, Coordinator Mr. Taijpaul Adjodhea noted that the Chamber had solicited small manufacturers from Orealla, at a reduced and subsidised cost, and such measures will be repeated.
Reviewing last year’s performance he noted that it was laced with challenges, as many persons had booked their spots very late, resulting in some difficulty in acquiring  accommodation.
“However, this year we will have that rectified by expanding the large pavilion, which will hold in excess of 200 exhibitors.”
Over the years, Berbicians have expressed some disappointment with the level of the exposition, with many calling for the return of the bigger manufacturers to showcase their respective products.
The Corentyne Chamber of Commerce was founded in November 2004, and spans from Borlam Turn to Tarlogie Village.