Dear Editor,
I am a local manufacturer who is seeking to promote my products regionally and internationally. I have been doing some research on upcoming trade events in the Caribbean and have come across a trade show organised by the Jamaica Manufacturers Ass-ociation (JMA). This event will take place from May 1 to May 4, 2008. I called the JMA to enquire about participation and was told that the expo is for local manufacturers only and the only participation regionally or internationally will be by buyers and not sellers.
The main theme for the expo is “Brand Jamaica”. This very event, I was told by a colleague, was open to regional and international manufacturers in the past.
I must commend the organisers and the Jamaican government for recognising that the root of economic development lies in the products manufactured locally and sold to international markets and for organising such an expo to showcase their local products – full marks to them.
In Guyana our “Big Show” is GuyExpo, which originally was intended to showcase Guyana’s products and invite investors to our country. This expo has now become a “big lime” and cell phone show. The manufacturers have slowly over the years made their way out of the list of exhibitors and yet we boast that GuyExpo is a trade show that truly exhibits Guyanese products.
I would therefore like to suggest that GuyExpo be renamed and if this government is serious about developing Guyana through export development Go-Invest should reschedule GuyExpo and model it after the JMA Expo.
Yours faithfully,
D. Collins
