Minister of Housing and Water Irfaan Ali says the Building and Construction Expo 2013 will focus on new and innovative approaches in the construction sector, as plans move apace to host the event in July.
“In this Building Expo [we] will have to look at new materials, innovation, new methods and techniques to be used in the construction sectors, so we can expose the people to a wide array of possibilities,” Ali said, according to a press release. Prepara-tions have also started for the staging of the exposition from July 5-7 at the Guyana National Stadium.
Although the construction sector is currently booming, the changing demands for traditional construction materials and existing shortages is challenging the ministry to examine innovative solutions. This year’s event will be geared towards consolidating the various partnerships the ministry has forged over the years to ensure that citizens benefit from secure and sustainable development.
According to Ali, the ministry had planned to forego the Expo this year but was persuaded to do otherwise after the private sector indicated that it had budgeted and was ready to participate in the event. He noted that the building and construction sector is a significant contributor to the GDP; creating employment and opportunities for skilled persons.
Building Expo has also allowed several persons who started as sole traders and small entrepreneurs to expand their businesses while offering lucrative deals and special discounts to consumers.
Now in its fourth year, the event brings together home owners, prospective homeowners and the local construction, manufacturing and services sectors as well as international participants.
