Organizers of the recent Linden Expo have said that it is “a growing success”, while noting that the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development (LCICD) is seeking to broaden the economic base of Linden and the establishment of an Economic Trade Zone has been placed on the front burner.
This assessment by the organizers follows what they have described as “the successful staging” of the 2nd annual expo during the observances of the Linden Town Week 2011 celebration. Patrons estimated in the thousands turned out at the three-day event which was held at the Egbert Benjamin Conference Centre where a large number of organisations, usiness entities and private individuals took the opportunity to market their products.
The expo which concluded last Sunday was held under the theme: ‘Moving ahead, responding to the challenges of free trade’.
A wide variety of products and services from Brazil and Regions Four and Ten were displayed in the fields of wholesale distribution, manufacturing, forestry, finance, education, tourism, and art and craft.
All of the products and services were from the 40 entities at the expo, including SABRAE of Brazil, Guyana Energy Agency, Ansa McAl Trading Limited, BOSAI Mineral Group (Guyana) Incorporated, Banks DIH Ltd, Ministry of Agriculture, Denise Institute of Catering and the Ministry of Tourism.
Meanwhile, LCICD chairman Marvin Burnes said that the Chamber is working towards the establishment of an Economic Trade Zone where more micro businesses can evolve into macro entities.
“The Economic Trade Zone is going to give businesses the opportunity to take advantage of competitive marketing, import and export products, probably at a reduced price,” he said.
He added that the chamber is currently awaiting the government’s approval for the establishment of the Economic Trade Zone in Linden.
President of Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association and member of the Private Sector Commission, Clinton Williams who was present at the expo urged residents and exhibitors to continuously market their products and services. “We have to take it further by establishing enterprise that will be able to export, package and sell it consistently of high quality,” he said.
SABRAE’s representative Edilueza Sette said Brazil’s involvement in this year’s expo is an indication of the growing relationship between the two countries, while noting that they are in the process of exploring business opportunities.
The Linden Expo had its humble beginning at the 2010 Linden Town Week celebrations with the sole aim of boosting the economy of Region 10 by strengthening relations between national and international businesses. This year the organizers added a new dimension to the event in the promotion of local talent.
