Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Manniram Prashad said over 300 businesses have indicated an interest in exhibiting at GuyExpo 2011 and preparations are being made to accommodate them at the trade exposition.
According to a Government Information Agency (GINA) press release, the minister said booth space is in high demand at the National Exhibition Centre. “People who wanted six and more booths had to be limited because of the overwhelming demand from the private sector…and additional tents had to be setup to accommodate those demands,” he said.
Only locally made goods, furniture and hardware products such as clay bricks and panel doors will be displayed in the main pavilion while over 120 booths in the annex have been allocated to local craft producers from across the country. “There are different areas on the ground with displays from big companies like Sterling, Banks and Ansa Mcal,” Prashad added.
In addition, the children’s play area has been relocated to the Amerindian Village, “where a new stop was identified away from the hustle and bustle… so that parents can have their children in a less-crowded area,” he explained. Prashad said the entire complex has been enhanced: the old fence was torn down and replaced and an additional 25 feet of fencing was installed to extend the parking lot to accommodate 400 more cars. The old wooden structure that usually houses the services sector has been renovated with new, modern prefabricated/collapsible booths from Impressions. “So the tarmac area where the old building used to be has three brand new tents with 90 additional booths…. So we would not have people building any structure with zinc and plywood,” Prashad explained. The area in front of the stage has also been resurfaced, and all the electrical installation has been completed. Exhibitors will also be trained to display their goods to ensure the get the greatest exposure
Prashad said delegations from nine countries, including Brazil and Suriname, are expected to participate in this year’s exposition. In the light of this, regional air carriers have indicated their willingness to accommodate passengers with extra baggage “because we expect the arrival figures to increase significantly based on reports from the airlines.” Hotels have also reported an increase in bookings.
Prashad said he optimistic that the exposition will provide the opportunity for businesses to boost their business and create linkages with regional and international buyers.
GuyExpo, which started in 1995 as a bi-annual event and has been hosted annually since 2004, will run from September 29 to October 2. It will be held under the theme ‘Enhancing Growth through Competitiveness.’
