The Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) was founded on November 24, 2004 and less than eight months later, from Friday July 1 to Monday July 5, 2005, hosted the inaugural Berbice Expo & Trade Fair at the Albion Sports Complex.
The event is now the biggest annual event in Berbice. It is currently being staged annually by the Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with the Government of Guyana through the Ministry of Tourism.
The Chamber is currently preparing to host the eleventh Berbice Expo & Trade Fair from Friday, September 18 to Monday, September 21, 2015. The exhibitors will include government ministries and other agencies including those involved in tourism, agriculture and industry; corporate entities including those in the telecommunications, trading, beverage, and spirits sectors and small and medium-sized enterprises including Amerindian enterprises from Orealla-Siparuta, which groups are being allocated free booth space.
As is customary, the event will cater for a range of children’s and adult entertainment including fireworks displays.
The Berbice Expo and Trade Fair benefits the community in various ways . Revenue from the event has financed the construction of the Rose Hall Town Fire Station, the rehabilitation of the Felix Austin Police College at Adventure, Corentyne and the pursuit of infrastructure works at the Albion Sports Complex.
Additionally, the event provides a platform for micro, small and medium-sized enterprises to interface with larger business entities with a view to creating partnerships. The event has also inspired and stimulated entrepreneurial enterprise through generation of ideas gained from viewing the exhibits and provided opportunities for family outings and educational experiences for children.
The opening of this year’s event will feature addresses by President David Granger and other officials of government, the honouring of the five top National Grade Six Assessment students from Berbice and various cultural presentations.
The Central Corentyne Chamber says it is seeking to encourage budding entrepreneurs across Berbice to utilise the event as a vehicle through which to showcase their products including clothing, furniture, handicraft, tools, household items, and services. The Chamber has also committed itself to affording small businesses the opportunity of benefitting from concessionary rates to ensure their participation in the Expo.
