Guyexpo 2007 was hailed as a success by all that not only took part but also by those who were afforded the opportunity to encounter the event for themselves. As you are aware each organizers of an event always promise to come bigger and better than the previous time. Well the organizers of Guyexpo 2007 surely outdid themselves as compared to their presentation in previous years. There was a general improvement of the presentation as well as exceptionally designed showcases which caught the attention of the patrons.
The hassle of buying tickets at the entrance of the event was taken into consideration by the organizers who instead of putting the ticket booths right at the entrance, placed the ticket booths on the streets leading into the exhibition site. This initiative worked as a deterring factor to the long lines usually created and the confusion that takes place as a result. The security checkpoints were well organized so that women and men were searched as they entered the site separately. The security personnel were also very courteous to a man in a wheelchair attempting to get into the event.
The first sight that greeted persons attending the exposition was a wildlife theme display with a macaw and a monkey hanging from two trees forming a canopy bearing the logo: “Guyexpo 2007 Partnering for Progress”. The designers chose a wildlife/jungle setting for the entrance into the event as well, creating a replica of Guyana’s rainforest with representations of its creatures in the tunnel leading to the main center of the event. There could be clearly seen replicas of caiman, monkeys, snakes as well as a jaguar. To add a nicer touch and a bit or authenticity to the display speakers were hidden among the trees playing sounds of nature, making one feel as if they were actually walking through the forest floor.
The way in which the booths were displayed is also to be complimented. There was almost full utilization of the site for booths. The way in which the exhibitors choose to decorate and display their booths was also very attractive and interesting. Most choose to integrate the rainforest theme into their displays, at least those located on the exterior of the buildings erected for booths. The larger organizations chose to spice up their displays to attract attention as well as to get a competitive edge. There were three exceptional displays that came to mind. First was Digicel who sought to add the car of speedster Mark Viera as a part of their display. This attracted customers to their booths in hundreds and it also proved to be a favorite spot to take photographs. Secondly was GT&T who utilized the skills of a sculptor to make an excellent replica of the Kaiteur Falls. This display was given a special spot in which photographers made very good use of the working replica fully equipped with running water. This breathtaking presentation was specially made by GT&T for Guyexpo 2007. Finally there was splashmins. They sought to make a scaled down version of the fun park. This was fully equipped with two power boats with models in bathing suits as well as jet skis in the specially dug out pond to represent the creek. This presentation was well received by those in attendance and attracted a lot of attention to the site.
The variety with which Guyexpo 2007 presented is also unparalleled to previous years. There were presentations form local producers, manufacturers and importers. There were representations of large, medium and small enterprise businesses. The event was not only attended by businesses but also by NGOs and non profit organizations such as the Red Cross. There were also provisions made for foreign countries to be represented by virtue of their business sectors. This is a movement away from an all Guyanese show and an opening up of the economy in keeping with the principles set out in the CSME as well as taking into consideration globalization and not restricting investment into the country. Not only was this good for the companies but it was a step in the right direction in terms of making Guyana a viable investment opportunity to the rest of the world. The variety of the displays made it almost impossible for one to see all the displays in one visit. If the displays were not enough to encourage you to keep going every opportunity you had, the car put up for grabs probably was your motivation. Guyexpo largest cooperate partner Clico Insurance Company Guyana; put a 3million dollar Toyota Carina up for grabs. To get a chance to win this car all one had to do was buy a ticket and write their contact info on the back and drop it into a rotisserie to stand a chance of winning.
The entertainment aspect of the event was well organized and catered for the tastes of almost every age group and musical preferences of everyone there. All one had to do is wait and their choice of music would have been presented. Guyanese artistes were given an opportunity to do their thing for the large crowds gathered. There were well organized and well choreographed dances, well tuned performances and excellent comedy. Not forgetting the excellent job done by the DJ’s on the turntables representing their respective sound systems expertly. The entertainment aspect of the show was so appreciated that GT&T even sponsored an entire evening segment. The blue power concert on Sunday evening was well received and provided a wide range of local artiste with an opportunity to perform for the local crowd. Their performances were well received and appreciated by those in attendance.
Guyexpo 2007 was such a success an extension was requested, but this was quickly refused by the minister of tourism. The reason this request was turned down was the fact that every year Guyexpo is usually held for 4 days then held over for a fifth night, this year however the event was held for 6 days taking previous years into consideration. The impact of this year’s exposition and the opportunities it afforded local and foreign investors cannot be fully seen at this point but from all indications Guyexpo 2007 was a monumentally successful representation of Guyanese culture and manufacturing potential, it also afforded Guyanese the opportunity to see what the world has to offer. Guyana was indeed put on show at this year’s event and I can hardly wait to see what is in store for next year.
by Andrew Ross