-several new features added including a 100% local supermarket

AS Guyana’s premier trade fair and investment show looms closer, construction work is underway to ensure that the exhibitors and participants’ expectations are met, as acting Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Irfaan Ali “lets the cat out of the bag.” 

GuyExpo 2014 will feature a ‘Guyana Supermarket’ under the theme ‘Buy Local, Eat local, Live local.’
Speaking at press conference on Thursday to give an update on GuyExpo 2014, Ali noted that with the theme in mind the exposition continues to highlight Guyana’s strategy and its careful policy implementation and continuing efforts to expand opportunities for sustainable investments.
He also noted “by next Tuesday the entire facility will be GuyExpo ready.”

Ali alluded that GuyExpo 2014 will have several new features that are conceptually different from previous Guyexpos and this year “we will be launching in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture, The Eat What you Grow Campaign.” He explained also that this major innovation will be a 100% local supermarket “a large supermarket right here at the exhibition site with an extensive array of local products and produce.”
Other attractions that will be added is the Air Services Limited (ASL) helicopter rides around the city, enticing nightly gate prizes by several companies which have indicated that they will have on going promotions at their individual booths.
A floral layout ‘Guyana Blooming’ was conceptualised to represent Guyana’s blooming industry and the sectors that are responsible for the economic transformation of our flourishing country, Ali explained “Guyana Blooming signifies the journey ahead of us.”
GuyExpo 2014 currently has 353 exhibiting groups and is targeting more than 400 groups. The event will see some 56 international exhibiting groups from Brazil, Argentina, Bangladesh, Suriname, and French Guiana, Trinidad and Tobago, among others.
The Tourism Minister indicated that one major concern of participants and patrons was the entertainment and loud music. The entertainment will now start from 21:00 hrs to midnight giving the booth holders ample time to conduct business and be able to express and explain to the patrons their products and produce. “We have also discussed with persons to regulate the volume of their music and our committee will also be monitoring this,” Ali said.
Another main addition to this year’s event is for the first time the GuyExpo Committee is partnering with local transportation providers to set up a transportation service that will facilitate easier access to and from GuyExpo every day for those residents living in outlying areas. Those areas are Berbice (Rose Hall, Bath Settlement and New Amsterdam), West Demerara (Parika, Tuschen, Vreed-en-hoop, Belle West) and Mahaica. There will also be an official taxi service at the exhibition site with regulated fares.
GuyExpo 2014 will be held from October 2nd-5th at the National Exhibition Centre under the theme, ‘Transformation: Partnering for a Better Guyana’.

(By Rebecca Ganesh-Ally)