Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Guyana Office for Investment (GO-Invest), Mr. Owen Verwey has expressed encouragement and optimism at the level of interest shown by exhibitors, prospective buyers and investors in the Guyana Trade and Investment Exhibition (GuyTIE) 2018, especially since it is the first of its kind.
Speaking at the opening ceremony on September 20, 2018 at the Marriott Hotel, Kingston, Mr. Verwey announced that GO-Invest registered 56 exhibitors to showcase their products at GuyTIE, while at least 100 buyers and potential investors from international markets—including the Caribbean, United States of America, Canada, Europe, South America and Asia—were among registered attendees.
Verwey disclosed that GO-Invest scheduled over 50 business-to-business meetings at GuyTIE, and he added that the Agency expects the event to generate more than double that number in unscheduled discussions and off-site meetings as stakeholders become aware of new opportunities and benefits.
He described the GuyTIE event as a comprehensive and timely exposition of locally produced goods and services and a unique opportunity for buyers, sellers and investors to get together in one forum to explore the potential for business and investment in Guyana.
The CEO noted that many of the registered companies and individuals visiting Guyana for the event, who are looking for products, companies and opportunities, will not only be able to interact meaningfully with business operators on the exhibition site, but also with others who are not exhibiting at the event.
Stating that strategic interactions among stakeholders are being facilitated by GO-Invest, Mr. Verwey thanked the Georgetown Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI), Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) and the Private Sector Commission (PSC) who have assisted in enabling the linkages.
Mr. Verwey went on to explain that GO-Invest intends for GuyTIE to be a premier business-focused event with the primary objective of establishing positive and productive connections between producers and businesses in Guyana and buyers and partners from international markets.
He pledged GO-Invest’s commitment to establishing GuyTIE as a flagship event to showcase the wealth of opportunities for producers and service suppliers in various sectors of Guyana’s economy, adding that the event will also serve as a vital platform for launching new local products and services.
He explained that GuyTIE was conceptualized and implemented in such a way that it caters for important benefits to be derived by all types of businesses in all sectors of Guyana’s economy as a key element of the Agency’s work to fulfill its mandate of promoting and facilitating investments in Guyana, and promote trade and exports.
GuyTIE is a four-day event set to wrap up on September 22nd.