The second Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GuyTIE) was officially launched on Wednesday, July 3, at the Arthur Chung Conference Centre on the outskirts of the country’s capital, Georgetown, under the theme, “Made Locally, Trading Globally.”
GuyTIE is intended to provide a platform for local export-ready businesses to engage foreign buyers and other potential partners.
The three-day event will run from February 13 to 15, 2020, and will feature 200 booths comprising 50 to 100 local export-ready exhibitors, as well as 50 regional and international exhibitors.
Speaking at the launch, GuyTIE Coordinator, Tameca Sukhdeo-Singh stated, “Building on the success of the event held in 2018, we are even more resolute in our mission to increase sustainable private sector investment, to increase value-added production and increase exports.”
Noting that 2020 promises to be a dynamic year on many fronts, Ms. Sukhdeo-Singh added, “We believe that GuyTIE will contribute significantly to the country’s upward growth trajectory.”
She explained that participants will benefit from interaction with international buyers, networking with peers in their respective industries, sharing experiences, observing new and innovative industries, and participating in business seminars.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) and GuyTIE Chairman, Owen Verwey, noted that the exhibition is intended to be a catalyst for the growth and development of businesses in Guyana.
“We also intend to ensure that GuyTIE 2020 continues to build mechanisms that will allow for the private sector to one day, take the leadership role and responsibility of this activity as we go into the future of Guyana, as it has done in many other countries,” the CEO said.
Officials remarked that Guyanese businesses will soon be operating in a more complex environment locally and globally with the entrance of the oil and gas industry. As such, innovation and cooperation will be necessary tools.
Trade Commissioner at the Canadian High Commission, Anand Harilall praised GuyTIE 2018 and the role of educating local businesses about export markets. He disclosed, “For GuyTIE 2020, the High Commission of Canada intends to work with Guyanese firms through the Ministry of Business to improve their capabilities to do international business.”
Newly-elected Chairman of the Private Sector Commission (PSC), Captain Gerry Gouveia, in his remarks to the gathering, underscored the importance of promoting Guyana on the global market.
“This event is one of the tools that has transformed this country and will continue to transform it,” the PSC Chairman said.
Gouveia cited GuyTIE as an example of the benefits of partnerships with the government and private sector and pledged the Private Sector’s continued support for such initiatives.
Also in attendance was the Competitiveness and Export Promotion Manager of Caribbean Export Development Agency, Mr. Damie Sinanan, who reminded that Caribbean Export has been involved in GuyTIE from its inception. He expressed hope for GuyTIE’s longevity, saying, “We want to see in 20 years’ time, that GuyTIE becomes a world-class event that continues to promote Guyana.”
Minister of Business, Haimraj Rajkumar, in officially announcing the launch of the event, encouraged businesses to register and participate in the exhibition as it will be a beneficial opportunity.
“I use this opportunity to urge all exhibitors to take full advantage of the various capacity-building sessions, spearheaded by our partner, Caribbean Export, which has great experience and expertise in delivering quality tradeshows across the Caribbean. These sessions will certainly help our local exhibitors to present themselves to potential buyers to negotiate deals,” he said.
The inaugural GuyTIE was a collaboration between the Ministry of Business, GO-Invest, the Caribbean Export Development Agency and the Private Sector Commission in 2018. The first business-to-business event was held at the Guyana Marriott in 2018.
At the launch, it was revealed that the location was changed for the 2020 hosting of GuyTIE to facilitate an increased number of booths. The exhibition will run from 10:00-18:00 hours. The first two days will be open to business and buyers while the final day will be open to the public, with an admission fee of $500.
GuyTIE 2020 is being held by Guyana’s Ministry of Business in collaboration with Caribbean Export Development Agency, the Guyana Office for Investment, Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association, Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry, New Guyana Marketing Corporation, Private Sector Commission, Guyana Undiscovered, Small Business Bureau and the National Exhibition Centre.
