The July 24-27 Berbice Expo and Trade Fair organised by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce is expected to attract overseas private sector participation, according to Chamber President Bhigroog Poonai.

Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad

Speaking with Stabroek Business earlier this week Poonai said that at least four private sector entities from Suriname including an exhibitor who is offering Japanese food are expected to be at the Expo which will be held at the Albion Sports Club Complex. Exhibitors from the private sector in India are also expected to participate in the event.

Poonai told Stabroek Business that invitations had also been extended to the Venezuelan and Colombian private sectors which, while expressing an interest, are yet to confirm their participation.

The Central Corentyne Chamber Presi-dent told Stabroek Business that he expects that with the completion of the Berbice River Bridge a larger number of companies from Georgetown will participate in the exhibition and trade fair. Stabroek Business understands that a number of private sector organizations in the telecommunications, hardware and beverages sectors, among others, have already provided sponsorship commitments for the event and that negotiations are ongoing with other entities.

State entities expected to play pivotal roles in the event include the Guyana Office for Trade and Investment (Go-Invest), the Guyana Tourism Authority and the Ministry of Agriculture. Poonai said that he expects that Berbice exhibitors in the agriculture, aquaculture, manufacturing, art and craft  and services sectors will feature prominently in the four-day event.

Chairman of the Private Sector Commission and Chief Executive Officer of Roraima Airways Captain Gerry Gouveia is expected to be one of the key speakers at the opening of the event and Poonai     said that he expects participation from several high-ranking government officials including Prime Minister Samuel Hinds and Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad.

Poonai told Stabroek Business that the hope of the Chamber was that it would realize a fair measure of success in “putting exhibitors” in the state that they can do business. He said that the greater the collaboration between and among the exhibitors the greater the success of the event would be.