Executives from the Linden Chamber of Commerce outlined their plans for Linden Expo, scheduled to be held from April 30 to May 2, at a press briefing at Go Invest yesterday.
The expo which is an initiative of the chamber is being held as part of activities to mark Linden Week 2010. It will be held at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Hall, Linden and is fully endorsed by Go Invest and the Ministry of Tourism, Industry and Commerce.
Senior Vice President of the Chamber Marvin Burns said the expo aims to highlight trade and investment activities found in Linden which is now being recognised as a hub for intra-regional trade. The Takutu Bridge which links Brazil and Lethem, Burns said, has opened a new trade route and the opportunities it presents should be capitalised on.
He added that Subrai, a Brazilian company has already registered with the expo and is looking forward to developing linkages between the two countries. Further the Suriname Cham-ber of Commerce has indicated his participation but is yet to indicate the size of its contingent.
While invitations were issued to the Chambers of Trinidad and Barbados, prior commitments have made it impossible for them to attend this year. Sheena Bristol, the chamber’s secretary said that this year they have made efforts for the expo to be bigger and better than last year’s. Thirty of the sixty available booths have been allocated and Burns urged persons to register early since it is being done on a first-come, first-served basis.
The exhibition is expected to include booths from a cross-section of sectors in Guyana including manufacturing, art and craft, financial, among others.
The estimated budget for the expo is $1.27 million, with most of the funds being raised via private sponsorship. However, the chamber is still seeking sponsorship to meet its target.
Burns added that Linden is on the rise. Further with the opening of the Brazil route, a new thinking has emerged amongst Lindeners who have to make use of the opportunity afforded to them, he added.
Bristol said that in addition to booths, several seminars are expected to be held to the needs of persons requiring information and to enable them to learn how to develop a better sense of business.
When asked about the opportunities in Linden, Burns said the town has many small manufacturers and has space for agricultural activities, docking facilities and access to savannah lands. He said the time has come for Linden to be recognised as more than a town renowned for its farms and bauxite. With the closure of the Linden Economic Advancement Pro-gramme, he said, Lindeners have become more aware of the opportunities they have at their disposal and are working to develop with the help of the private sector, whose role is seen as pivotal.
