A DELEGATION of thirteen Guyanese drawn from seven companies within Guyana’s private sector will be heading to Cuba to attend the 34th staging of The Havana International Fair 2016 — annual highlight of the Cuban Government and private sector, and an important fair for investors from across the globe.The delegation will use the event to expand the horizons of their businesses while seeking exposure for what Guyana has to offer to not just Cuba, but the rest of the world.

The PSC held a meeting at its Waterloo Street headquarters in Georgetown on Friday to brief Business Minister Dominic Gaskin and members of the media on the event. PSC Executive Director Ms. Elizabeth Alleyne, who gave a sneak peek into the much-anticipated international trade fair, said that FIHAV is a massive undertaking which brings together thousands of investors from across the globe.

She recalled that, last year alone, the fair brought together 1000 companies drawn from 70 countries; and she said the participation of Guyana’s private sector in this 34th staging of FIHAV this year stemmed from an initial proposal that Guyana’s Ambassador to Cuba, His Excellency Halim Majeed, made to the Chairman of the Trade and Investment Sub-Committee of the Private Sector Commission, Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo.

She extended gratitude to Ambassador Majeed for this initiative, noting that his “diligent efforts made this mission possible”; and she also had kudos for Mr. Ramesh Dookhoo, who coordinated the effort.

“The assistance of His Excellency Mr. Julio Marchante, Ambassador of Cuba to Guyana, was invaluable,” the Director said, as she also commended Captain Gerry Gouveia for the part he played in signing an agreement with the airline EasySky out of Honduras to commence the ‘non-stop flights’ to Cuba from which the Guyanese delegates would benefit.

And touching on the special historic relationship which Cuba and Guyana have shared over the years, Ms. Alleyne said that it lends significance to this mission. “As we all know, Cuba has been sending medical outreach teams to Guyana for many years. The Cuban Government has also been training, free of charge, large numbers of our young people every year to become doctors and return and enhance health care in the country.”

The PSC Executive Director said the Commission is extremely pleased that Business Minister Dominic Gaskin would accompany the private sector representatives. She said some of the delegates would be seeking new markets in Cuba, while others are hoping to source raw materials at competitive costs; but they all expect to seize the opportunity to network and forge new business relationships during the mission.

The private sector delegates to this Cuba trade fair comprise the following persons: From Roraima Airways – Captain Gerald Gouveia, Mr. Dellon
Murray, Ms. Priscilla Ramcharran and special guest Mr. Wesley Kirton.
From Banks DIH – Mr. Carlton Joao and Mr. Dwain Bristol
From the Beharry Group of Companies – Ms. Ruth Autar and Ms. Rishma Ajodha
From Global Seafoods – Ms. Allison Butters-Grant
From the Guyana Rice Development Board – Mr. Nizam Hassan
From Gafson’s Industries – Mr. Oswald Motilal
And representing the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) will be Ms. Uchenna Gibson and Mr. Roy Blackman.