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Berbice Expo 2012 launched
The 8th Annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair was launched on Wednesday
Lekha Rambrich (front row centre), Derrick Cummings (right) Willett Hamilton (back row, fourth from right) and senior CCCC members, at the launching of the 8th Annual Berbice Expo and Trade Fair. (GTA photo)
at the Albion Estate Senior Staff Club. The annual event will be held at the Albion Sports Complex from July 20-23, 2012, under the theme “Showcasing Opportunities, Fulfilling our Potential”.
President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC), Mr. Lekha Rambrich, whose chamber organises the event each year, spoke about Agricultural Tourism, in terms of going to remote areas and “looking at activities, for example, the Number 52-74 Corentyne area where youth farmers opened up over 3,000 acres of land way down into the Canje”.
“That can attract tourism because we can go down there. There are people interested in bird-watching, hunting, just being out there, camping, fishing…so many activities out there, and we just need the businesses to grab on to these opportunities. ”
Rambrich urged the government to play its part to create access to those areas.
He emphasized that this year’s event will be the biggest and “an expo that will be remembered by all”.
“We can guarantee that we can make it one of the best and I am urging all of the businesses to position themselves to capture all the opportunities that will arise.”
Rambrich noted that while he would not want the event to be in competition with GuyExpo, “we want to run near to them to ensure we give them a good fight”.
Chief Executive Officer of the Small Business Bureau, Mr. Derrick Cummings (representing the Tourism Industry and Commerce Minister) emphasised government’s commitment to supporting the event. He revealed that the #63 Beach will be open for tender for partnership to develop the area.
“Positioning yourselves to take advantage of the extractive sectors or the emerging sectors is something that you should do…oil and gas…the Port Mourant Training School, to see where that school can adapt to service in the gas and oil industry, all the expertise, and to look around in the region to see what we have existing that can benefit both in terms of employment, skills and services.”
He asked the gathering to “look at agriculture industrial complexes where we go beyond primary production, and look at going to processing large amounts of produce for export”. He said that the problem in Guyana is not being able to produce materials for export, but rather, the availability to suit the demand that buyers want.
“Even in the worst of times when private sector and capitalism was taboo, the entrepreneurship of Region 6 rose to the challenge… that kept it going.”
A seminar for persons who want to invest and partner with businesses (both large and small) was proposed by Cummings and the Ministry of Tourism, in collaboration with the Embassy of Suriname, to target the business sector.
Cummings urged the Berbice businesses to “feel free to call on us and we will give you the support…from the governmental level”.
Region Six Chairman, David Armogan, urged the organisers to have more indigenous products showcased.
“It gives the people in our region the opportunity to view what is available so that they can make informed choices. Over the years, we have seen increased participation by exhibitors, but I would wish to see greater involvement in products produced by our riverain people…this is something I have not seen. I have been to Orealla, Siparuta, etc., and some of these products deserve to be showcased, because they are good products that we can buy in our local market.”
Representatives of the major sponsors also attended the launching ceremony, including GT&T, Beharry Group of Companies, Banks DIH, DDL, Republic Bank and Neal and Massy.
Exhibitors will be visiting from Suriname, Trinidad, Barbados, India, as well as Brazil. The Rupununi will also be represented. International artistes will join local counterparts in providing nightly entertainment.
The CCCC was founded in November 2004 and has a membership of 28 businesses. It is the youngest chamber in Guyana.
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