Berbice Expo opens with call for transformation, inclusive growth

The 19th Berbice Exposition and Trade Fair officially opened Friday evening at the Welfare Centre Ground, East Canje, with resounding calls for transformation, innovation, and collective progress in the region’s economic landscape.
The event, hosted by the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce (CCCC) under the theme “Harnessing New Wealth; Modernising Traditional Sectors for Sustainable Economic Development,” brought together business leaders, Government officials, entrepreneurs, and residents from across Region Six and beyond. In delivering the feature address, President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce, Mr Poonai Bhigroog, emphasised that the Berbice Expo remains a vital platform for ensuring that the region keeps pace with Guyana’s national transformation.
“This exposition is vital to ensuring that the people of Berbice are not left behind but empowered to participate fully in this wave of national transformation sweeping our country,” he said. He pointed to the rapid pace of development across Berbice, including the expansion of infrastructure at Palmyra and Port Mourant, where major national projects are underway.
These include ExxonMobil’s oil and gas school and a hospitality training centre, as well as the ongoing construction of the four-lane highway and new housing schemes valued at more than $7 billion. Bhigroog described the Expo as a movement; one that connects local businesses to greater opportunities, fosters investment and modernisation and encourages collaboration between traditional and emerging industries.
“The question before us is not whether Guyana will grow, but whether we will be transformed. This Expo reminds us that Guyana’s development is not about one region or one industry, but about collective growth and shared opportunity,” he said.
The Chamber President also highlighted the organisation’s strong record of corporate social responsibility, noting recent projects such as the construction of sanitary facilities and a new play park in Rose Hall, as well as donations to the Dharamshala at Canje, valued at over $1 million. Meanwhile, Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce Susan Rodrigues lauded the Chamber for its consistency and vision in promoting business and enterprise through the annual exposition.
She said the timing of this year’s event coincides with significant transformation across Region Six, driven by large-scale investment, infrastructure expansion, and renewed momentum in sectors such as tourism, agriculture, manufacturing, and trade.
“Soon, for the very first time, we will be able to drive across the Corentyne River,” the minister announced, referring to the construction of the Corentyne River Bridge. “And in just about eight months from now, we will officially commission the new Tourism and Hospitality Institute – a true game changer for this region and for our country’s tourism sector.”
The Institute, she explained, will offer professional training and certification to equip Berbicians with the skills needed to serve at international standards, thereby strengthening the country’s growing tourism and hospitality industry. Emphasising the region’s growing tourism appeal, Rodrigues noted that her ministry continues to work closely with the Office of the First Lady and the Regional Administration to develop key attractions, including Number 63 Beach and other scenic sites. She further revealed that in the first half of the year alone, 6300 visitors entered Berbice from Suriname through the Moleson Creek Port, while 24,655 visitors were recorded arriving in Guyana overall – clear evidence, she said, that the region’s tourism sector is on a strong upward trajectory.
“Region Six is well on its way to becoming one of Guyana’s leading tourism and business destinations,” Rodrigues declared.
The Minister also underscored her ministry’s continued investment in small business development. Since 2020, over 464 small businesses have benefited from grants totalling nearly $100 million, with 302 of those being women-owned enterprises.
She announced that the Ministry has sponsored eight small businesses to participate in this year’s Expo, representing sectors such as agro-processing, construction, and the creative arts. “Our aim is to help small businesses move beyond survival to become competitive and sustainable. Through initiatives like this Expo, we are giving them the visibility and opportunities they need to grow,” Rodrigues said.
Both speakers reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that Berbice remains central to Guyana’s growth story. Bhigroog called on residents and entrepreneurs to seize the opportunities of modernisation, while Rodrigues pledged continued Government partnership with the Private Sector and civil society. “The future of Guyana is not written in oil or gold; it is written in the spirit of her people,” Bhigroog concluded.
“Together, the Government, Private Sector, and people of Berbice can continue to build a strong, diverse regional economy, one that creates jobs, uplifts communities, and keeps Berbice at the forefront of Guyana’s development,” Rodrigues affirmed.
The Berbice Expo continues through the weekend at the Welfare Centre Ground, showcasing hundreds of exhibitors, local products, and entertainment celebrating the spirit of enterprise and transformation in Region Six.