PREPARATIONS are well advanced for the sixth edition of the International Building Expo, with organisers reporting near-full occupancy of exhibition space and growing international participation ahead of the four-day event scheduled for June 25–28, 2026.
Hosted by the Ministry of Housing and Water under the theme “Guyana at 60: Building Strong Foundations for the Sustainable Future,” the expo has already allocated approximately 96 per cent of available booths, signalling strong demand from both local and overseas exhibitors.
Housing and Water Minister Collin Croal, in a telephone interview on Monday, said the response so far has exceeded expectations, with only a limited number of exhibition spaces still available.
He noted that the strong uptake reflects growing international confidence in Guyana’s construction and housing sector.
“We are very pleased with where we are at this stage,” Croal said, adding that a significant number of participating companies are coming from outside Guyana.
According to the Ministry, exhibitors from around 11 countries have expressed interest in taking part in this year’s event. These include regional partners such as Barbados and Trinidad and Tobago, as well as international participants from Canada, the United States, China, Costa Rica, Japan, and Italy, among others. Several local agencies and private-sector entities are also confirmed.
The expo, which has grown into the largest of its kind in the Caribbean, is designed to bring together contractors, suppliers, financial institutions, policymakers, and investors in a single space to showcase developments in housing, infrastructure, and construction technology.
Minister Croal also clarified arrangements for the Ministry’s participation at the event, noting that its main exhibition booth will be positioned at the front of the venue as in previous years. He added that the Ministry will also feature elements of its “Dream Realised” initiative at the rear section of the exhibition space.
However, he said the Ministry will not be processing new housing applications on site during the event, directing prospective applicants instead to regional offices and standard service channels.
The “Dream Realised” component is expected to include another large-scale distribution of land titles, continuing a feature that has become a central attraction of the expo in recent years.
Croal said the Ministry remains optimistic about the 2026 staging, noting that visitors can expect a strong focus on innovation, construction technology, and sector education aimed at improving public understanding of housing and infrastructure development.
First launched in 2010 under the then Minister of Housing and Water, Mohamed Irfaan Ali, the International Building Expo was initially conceived as a platform to connect contractors, suppliers, banks, and investors. Over time, it has expanded significantly in scope and scale and is now regarded as a key regional event for the construction and housing industry, linking Guyana to regional and international markets.