THE Ministry of Business has established a Steering Committee which will be responsible for a major biennial business-to-business engagement in 2018, a release noted.

The event, which is yet to be officially named, is geared to providing sustainable markets for export-ready products; providing opportunities for foreign companies to partner with local companies and also providing opportunities for green field ventures, among other outcomes.
According to the release, the event is designed to contribute positively to export earnings for Guyana, capacity of local businesses and general growth and development of the business sector. The key objectives are to promote packaged investment opportunities for Foreign Direct Investments (FDI); link export-ready firms to export-markets; create opportunities for foreign investors to partner with local businesses; and to highlight Guyana as a good place to do business.
The idea for the initiative emerged out of consultations on the future of GUYEXPO. These consultations, including a workshop held in February 2017, were facilitated by representatives of the Caribbean Export Development Association (CEDA) and Jamaica Investment Promotions (JAMPRO) and the Trinidad and Tobago Chamber of Commerce. Local stakeholders included the Ministry of Business, the GUYEXPO Planning Committee, the Guyana Manufacturers and Services Association (GMSA), Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and other local business leaders.
GUYEXPO, which was introduced in 1995, was initially under consideration to be redesigned but recommendations coming out of the consultations were for GUYEXPO to maintain in its current business-to-consumer format since it was now an established brand, and given the expectations of the private sector.
The Steering Committee includes: CEO of GO-INVEST, Owen Verwey; Coordinator of the National Exhibition Centre, Tameca Sukdeo-Singh; CEO Small Business Bureau, Lovell Porter; First Vice President, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, Ramsey Ali; Director, Guyana Tourism Authority, Indranauth Singh; Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, and Vice Chairman of the Private Sector Commission, Desmond Sears.