GO-Invest gearing to host trade show in Miami

Go InvestGeorgetown: AS the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest) continues to celebrate its 20th anniversary, the trade and investment entity is fine-tuning arrangements for the hosting of its biggest activity for the year, the “Guyana Trade, Tourism and Investment Expo 2014,” to be held next Friday and Saturday in Miami, Florida.

The two-day event, which will be held at the Broward College, Omni Auditorium (North Campus), coconut Creek Boulevard, Coconut Creek, Florida is being held in collaboration with the Honorary Consul to Miami, Mr. Ramzan Roshanali, and under the auspices of Senate Representative, Hazelle P. Rogers and Mayor of Broward County, Honorable Barbara Sharief.

Briefing the media on Friday on the expo and preparations made to facilitate the big occasion, were GO-Invest Research Officer, Ms. Alexis Monize and Export Promotion Officer, Ms. Uchenna Gibson. The briefing was held at the Guyana Office for Investment, Camp and Church Streets, Georgetown.

All systems are in place for the take- off, and the environment is literally abuzz, as companies prepare to head for the Trade Expo in Miami. Two of the manufacturers, confident and brimming with excitement, were present at the media brief to share with reporters how they felt about being a part of the contingent and having their products showcased in Miami. They are: Ms. Andrea Brathwaite, Fabric Stylist and Cheoma Griffith, involved in home accessories.

At the expo a wide range of products, grown and manufactured in Guyana, will be showcased by some 54 companies – 50 coming out of Guyana and four from Miami, according to Export Promotion Officer, Ms. Uchenna Gibson. Guyana’s products to be put on display include: woods and wooden products, wooden products such as elegantly crafted furniture; fresh and processed foods; handicraft; foam accessories; functional art; leather products; clothes and garments, as well as tourism products.

“The show is all about showcasing what is grown and manufactured in Guyana,” Gibson explained.

She said a number of agencies and organisations, including Enterprise Florida, the Broward County for Economics and Small Business Development; the Global Trade Chamber and the Greater Caribbean American Chamber of Commerce are collaborating with the organisers to ensure the success of the expo.

The team is scheduled to depart Guyana on Tuesday for the expo in Miami. Painting a vivid picture, Gibson said, “This is not just going to be your regular trade fair. It is a fair where we have collaborated with the state representative in Miami, Mrs. Hazel Rogers and she is matching our exhibitors, our participants with buyers in Miami and farther afield. That process has already started and Ms. Rogers travelled to Guyana where she had a look at some of the products to be showcased at the event and she is working right now, seeking buyers for the products.

Florida representative, Hazelle Rogers earlier visited Guyana to meet with GO-Invest organising team, headed by C.E.O. Mr. Keith Burrowes, as well as the prospective investors. Florida Rep. Rogers also paid a courtesy call on His Excellency President Donald Ramotar; Prime Minister Samuel Hinds; Foreign Affairs Minister Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett; Acting Tourism Minister Irfaan Ali, Public Service Minister, Dr. Jennifer Westford and Transport Minister Robeson Benn.

Commenting on the outcome of her visit to Guyana, Rep. Hazelle Rogers asserted: “It was indeed a very productive visit and we now look forward to welcoming in October, all the exhibitors who will take advantage of this opportunity to find markets in Florida.” She added that the expo is also an opportunity for the companies to source raw materials, equipment and other requirements they need for their operations in Guyana. She further advised that arrangements were being put in place in Florida, to match the visiting companies and artisans with companies that would have an interest in distributorships, retail sales, and the supply of raw materials and equipment.

Meanwhile, the Broward County Economics and Small Business Commission is leading the arrangements for two workshops on Friday October 31. One in the morning, titled: “Exporting to the U.S. through Florida” and another in the afternoon on “Doing Business with Guyana.”

“The workshop in the morning is a regulatory workshop where we will have persons from the U.S. talking to our producers on how to access the U.S. market through Florida; then there will be a second workshop where we will be talking to the U.S. businesses on how to invest, and in what they should invest in Guyana.” Gibson told reporters.

Ms. Alexis Monize has advised that a Website www.gttie.com and face book page include a matchmaker programme through which companies interested in distributorships and/or on going purchases of products on show at the expo can sign up in advance for meetings with the visiting companies during the event.