The annual International Building Expo has emerged as an invaluable platform for numerous aspiring businesses seeking a memorable debut. This sentiment, among others, were expressed by Susan Rodrigues, the minister within the Ministry of Housing, during the expo’s launcing ceremony on Friday evening.
Reflecting on last year’s event, Rodrigues shared her delight in having visited every single booth, leaving no stone unturned. She expressed her satisfaction with the positive feedback received from small and medium-scale businesses. “I was very pleased last year, when I visited all of the booths. I don’t think I missed any. I visited every single booth at the Expo last year. And I must say that the small and medium scale businesses had very positive comments and feedback,” she said in an enthused manner.
Furthermore, Rodrigues highlighted the significance of witnessing the rise of these businesses, as it defied the common perception that such expos are exclusive to corporate giants. “The feedback was that it was a launching pad for new businesses, and small businesses. And the feedback was that people got orders and business that they’ve never received before and and so they credit their growth to the International Building Expo,” she elaborated.
The minister underlined that the expo warmly welcomes participants from all sectors, including small and medium-scale enterprises, as well as prominent corporate sponsors. She also emphasized that the expo serves as a platform for aspiring entrepreneurs, providing them with an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their products and services amidst a transformative environment.
Moreover, the minister announced the inclusion of the expo’s flagship event, the government’s ‘Dream Realised’ land allocation exercise. This highly anticipated exercise has become synonymous with the expo, as individuals from targeted areas get to receive their long-awaited house lots. Rodrigues revealed that the exercise would span several days during the expo, offering individuals with pending applications or concerns an avenue to address their issues effectively.
This year’s expo was launched under the theme “Building For All: One Guyana, Many Opportunities,” and is slated to occur from August 24-27, at the National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
President, Dr. Irfaan Ali was unable to attend, however, other government officials such as Prime Minister, Brigadier (Ret’d) Mark Phillips; Minister of Housing and Water, Collin Croal; and other officials were present.
