THE Berbice Expo and Trade Fair provides a unique platform for small businesses to showcase their products, build valuable partnerships and gain greater exposure, Regional Chairman Junior Basant has said, as anticipation builds for the annual event.

The Berbice Expo and Trade Fair is expected to kick off tonight at the Rose Hall Estate Community Ground, bringing together businesses, entrepreneurs and patrons from across Berbice and other parts of Guyana.

In an interview with the Guyana Chronicle, Basant said the expo remains one of the most anticipated events on Region Six’s calendar, providing not only entertainment for families, but also significant economic and networking opportunities for businesses.

“Over this weekend we will see the annual Berbice Expo held at the Canje Ground, Region Six. The expo is a much-anticipated activity for Region Six. The entire region looks forward to this, not only for entertainment, but as a space where they can come out, spend leisure time with their families and get deals from the various businesses that will be there,” Basant said.

Importantly, the Regional Chairman highlighted the opportunities the event creates for small and emerging businesses, allowing them to connect with larger and more established companies.

“Expo creates a unique opportunity for small business owners in the region to partner with larger business owners, to make meaningful partnerships and liaise with these persons so that they can promote and put their businesses out there,” he explained.

Basant noted that the exposure offered through the expo can play an important role in helping entrepreneurs expand their customer base, establish new business relationships and create greater recognition for locally produced goods and services.

For small entrepreneurs who may not ordinarily have access to large markets or established business networks, the expo provides an avenue to place their products directly before thousands of potential customers while interacting with other members of the business community.

The annual event is also expected to provide a boost to economic activity in Region Six, with businesses across several sectors benefiting from the increased movement of patrons throughout the weekend.

“Over the next four days, Berbicians will be able to visit the location and have a sense of enterntainment and also be able to tap into these businesses which I am anticipating will have deals and opportunities so that persons are exposed to them, so the expo creates a unique blend of economic opportunities, it creates a blend where persons are able to have a sense of entertainment, it creates a blend where persons are able to go out there and explore while persons are having a good time,” he added.

Basant then encouraged residents to support the event and, particularly, the small and emerging businesses participating, noting that their growth remains important to the continued economic development of the region.