GUYANA will participate in the China International Import Expo and Minister of Business Dominic Gaskin is urging all businesses willing to participate to have a clear understanding of the market with a sense of purpose of what China needs and what businesses can deliver.

Minister Gaskin was at the time speaking at the China International Import Exposition Awareness Session and cocktail hosted at the Guyana Pegasus Wednesday evening. In 2017, Guyana exported US$18M in supplies to China.

The Guyana Office for Investment in collaboration with the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China have dispatched detailed packages to the private sector bodies, encouraging participation at the International Import Expo which will be held in Shanghai, China, during November 5th – 10th, 2018.

“I know we have a vibrant business community that is eyeing the rest of the world, because the reality is that the Guyana market is not a really large market, so if you want to expand your business, if you have great ideas and ambitions, then you would know that Guyana cannot provide an infinite market as the rest of the world,” Gaskin said.

He said the event in China will open business people’s eyes to their competition on an international scale. “The Chinese are long-term thinkers, they are not a five-year or two-year thinkers…When Chinese speak people listen, because their culture is a can-do culture. China has done some amazing things over the last 20 years, whether it’s in infrastructure, technology, manufacturing or whatever it is,” the Minister of Business said.

Noting that China has over a billion people, Minister Gaskin said the country will always have a market for food and such a market will always be open for agriculture and seafood. “We have always been an agricultural economy and therefore we should carefully consider how to sell more food, not to just to China, but the rest of the world, but certainly China has the appetite for whatever we can produce,” he said.

The minister encouraged businesses that are interested in expanding their export potential, especially in the Asian markets, to consider the potential of attending the exposition.
China’s Ambassador to Guyana, Mr. Cui Jianchun, said there is a recipe for Guyana’s development in five “I’s” and five “T’s” initiative.

He explained that the first is infrastructure, which is needed to open the economy; the second is Information and Communication Technology (ICT); thirdly is nvestment; fourthly, there is need for a value-added Industry and finally there is need for integration.
Further, the Chinese envoy said the five “T’s” start with Thought in all levels of society; secondly Talent which is important to development; thirdly Trade; fourthly Tourism and finally, Technology.

“I am thinking how can I find the opportunity to make this five “I” and five “T” a reality, so I am working hard and talking to the ministers, business peoples on how can we find a way,” His Excellency Jianchun said.

The envoy noted that the expo represents the important measure that China has taken to further open up its market to the world, and it will increase imports.

He explained that China has a large-sized middle class and will become the world’s biggest consumer market in a few years. If China increases imports from other countries, it will help many nations involved in the Belt and Road Initiative share in China’s rapid growth.
The first import expo will showcase two exhibitions, one on the Belt and Road countries’ trade and investment, including their goods and services, tourism, and featured products, and the other on varied business sectors, including consumer electronics, auto, clothing, food, medical equipment, service outsourcing and education.