ALL is set for the opening of GuyExpo on Thursday, May 12, at the Sophia Exhibition Complex. The event is expected to be the biggest yet.Being held under the theme “50 Years: Guyana means Business – Promoting Enterprise, Driving Productivity”, GuyExpo is part of a series of events being held to mark Guyana’s 50th anniversary of Independence.

Minister of Business, Dominic Gaskin, having inspected the Sophia Complex facilities, said all will be ready for the big day on Thursday. The grand event concludes on Sunday.

“Workers appear to be moving along enthusiastically to get things up and ready so that we can kick things off come Thursday,” Minister Gaskin said.

He disclosed that the response this year has been exceptional, with some 250 local and international companies participating and more than 300 booths being featured.

At the launch of the expo in March, Gaskin had said the event is well aligned with the objectives of the Business Ministry and the economic development priorities of the Government. GuyExpo is designed to nurture and promote business growth and development in Guyana.

“One of the areas of focus for the Ministry of Business is on the development of micro and small enterprises. This level of enterprise accounts for almost 30 per cent of our country’s GDP, and employs tens of thousands of people,” the minister has said.

President David Granger, who also spoke at the occasion, had underscored the importance of the event: “GuyExpo is placing more emphasis on the local manufacturing sector to help revitalise the economy, which has too long now been dependent on the exportation of raw materials.”

Being one of the biggest commercial events, GuyExpo opens an avenue for economic development and commercial exposure.