Second annual International Building Expo launched

The International Building Expo-sition was officially launched on Friday night, June 03, with Housing and Water Minister Irfaan Ali declaring that the second staging of the event is testimony to expansion in the construction sector.

The exposition, themed “Bridging the Gap – Transforming Guyana”, was launched at the Princess Hotel, Providence, East Bank Demerara and will run from July 29 to 31.

It is expected to attract scores of local and regional stakeholders in the construction and engineering industries, both in Guyana and in the Caribbean.

According to Ali, there is much to expect from this year’s expo as there is an expansion in the number of stakeholders and exhibitors.

He said the event will create opportunities for competition, and he noted that it is his vision to see this exposition become a premier event in the Caribbean and Latin America.

The aim, Housing Minister Ali stressed, is to promote and advance linkages among local, regional and international stakeholders in the construction, engineering, and sawmilling sectors, among others.

He urged the audience of mostly officials from participating organisations to embrace the opportunities they now have, and noted that future investments will transform and make these sectors more competitive.

He mentioned that the local construction industry has flourished over the past years, and continues to grow despite the recent financial and economic crises. This, he said, is a positive sign of economic stability and the sound management of the economy.

Ali said Guyana is moving in the right direction through the astute leadership of the current administration. He pointed to the major housing drive that is taking place on the East Bank Demerara.

On that score, he disclosed that more than 15,000 house lots are to be distributed in communities there no later than August of this year.

Private Sector Commission (PSC) Chairman Ramesh Dookhoo concurred with Minister Ali, noting that Guyana is indeed developing rapidly, especially in the construction and building sectors.

Dookhoo said, too, that the services sector is outdoing the manufacturing industry by some distance.

According to him, this sector has contributed 10.3 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2010. The PSC chairman noted that middle-income earners can now develop equity and are no longer left out in the development process. He also urged commercial banks to review their position on creating better deals for people who are desirous of obtaining loans to construct homes.

The Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association (GMSA) has joined the expo this year, and its president, Clinton Williams, contended that the event is phenomenal.

Williams was of the view that ICT will help to move the sector forward, and on that note lauded government’s One Laptop Per Family (OLPF) Project. This initiative, he said, can play a vital role in advancing the sector to meet international standards and efficiency. The GMSA president also advocated a partnership between the participating companies, noting that movement in this direction will allow for more creative approaches and ideas, which in turn will result in better standards and cheaper prices for the consuming public.

The occasion was attended by PPP presidential candidate Donald Ramotar; Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Manniram Prashad, and representatives and sponsors of the expo. These organisations include the Guyana Bank for Trade and Industry, Gafoors, Republic Bank, Global Hardware, Buddy’s Housing Developers, the New Building Society, the Guyana Telephone and Telegraph Company, BK International, Neal and Massay Group of Companies, Courts and Scotiabank.