Building Expo 2011 to be held July 29 – 31

Plans for the hosting of Building Expo 2011 are well on stream as staffers of the Housing and Water Ministry continue to vigorously pursue plans for the three-day exposition, which will be held from July 29 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.

Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali said that, since its inception, the exposition has attracted significant attention from local developers, manufacturers, producers of construction and building materials, landscapers, architects, and engineers, the Government Information Agency (GINA) reported Tuesday night.

“There is a lot of work that is going into it. It is going to be, of course, better than last year’s, as a number of exhibitors have already confirmed their participation. We have seen in excess of 30 corporate sponsors, so it’s going to be a huge opportunity for persons who are looking to construct their homes, as well as for persons who want to expose their product to ensure that people are made aware of what they have to offer, Minister Ali said.

Minister Ali said that the response from the public has thus far been overwhelming. This year, the President’s Award for Innovation and Research will be awarded to the successful company which can develop a creative product suited for the local market and which captures the attention of consumers. When compared to last year’s exposition, he said, this year, persons will be allowed an opportunity to grasp full-fledged housing services, as staffers from the ministry will also be conducting interviews for house lot applications. “We will also be showcasing the transition of Guyana over the last decade, to show how we have bridged the gap and how Guyana has transformed itself. A number of new initiatives will be launched,” he said. Private developers will receive a boost to their business as there will be a full scale model for development available.

With respect to capacity, Minister Ali said that staffers from the Central Housing and Planning Authority (CH&PA) have designed the facility conducive for an easy flow of persons to and from the exposition.

While adding that the family experience at the expo will be a tremendous one, the housing minister said it will also pave the way for persons to make better decisions when constructing their dream homes, as companies from Trinidad and Suriname are slated to participate.

Minister Ali also encouraged the different banks to conduct courteous service as well as perform pre-assessments of loan applications. A media launch for Building Expo 2011 is slated for June 3, 2011 at the Princess Hotel, Providence.