–Prime Minister tells Essequibians at opening of ‘agri’ trade fair and exhibition

PRIME Minister Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips on Friday night joined members of the Essequibo Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ECCI) in declaring open the 6th  Agro Trade Fair and Exhibition held at the Anna Regina Centre Ground.

Addressing the well-attended gathering, Prime Minister Phillips said that the private sector has a role to play in developing Guyana’s economy, and explained that the event provides a platform to showcase the viability of the County of Essequibo.

Essequibo is ripe for investments in agriculture, tourism, forestry, mining, manufacturing, and many other areas of commerce.
“This is an excellent opportunity to form potential partnerships, and foster new business ventures in these areas to build and develop Essequibo,” the Prime Minister said.

He said the event builds on the recent Agri-Investment Forum and Expo held in May this year at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre. The 2022 Agri Investment Forum and Expo set the stage for similar events to be replicated to showcase and fast-track investment and development opportunities within the agriculture sector.

“Our government has committed to the continued strengthening of Guyana’s traditional sectors, recognising that they continue to play a significant role in our economy through reports, foreign currency earnings and our GDP,” Prime Minister Phillips said.

He took the opportunity to thank the President of the ECCI for organising the event, especially after two years of the pandemic, and urged young people to pursue an education in agriculture in order to continue the development of Essequibo.

Regional Chairperson Vilma De Silva said the Essequibo Agriculture and Trade Expo is a unique platform for the region to showcase its potential and value to the rest of Guyana, and for businesses to explore networking opportunities.

President of the ECCI Suean Seewnarayan said the organisation was formed with the intention to move businesses forward. This year, over 100 booths participated in the ‘expo’.
It is important for the private sector to raise the standard to remain viable in a competitive economy, she said.

“Go out and explore what our region has to offer; we remain strong, advocating for business development. Become members of the organisation and support our members,” Seewnarayan said.
After the ‘expo’ was declared open, the Prime Minister, along with regional officials, used the opportunity to interact with participating agencies. During the interaction, Prime Minister Phillips said he was impressed with some of the local items on display.
The exhibitors were excited to be part of the ‘expo’. One exhibitor, Jacqueline Success, said it gave her the opportunity to showcase her local sauces.