The Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC) in collaboration with the Forest Products Development and Market Council (FPDMC) officially opened Guyana Timber Expo 2018, which will be showcasing timber products available in Guyana.
Themed “Expanding markets for Guyanese timber products through public education, awareness and sensitisation to promote a greener Guyana”, the exposition will be hosted until May 20 at the Guyana National Stadium, Providence, East Bank Demerara.
The exposition is geared at highlighting and promoting Guyana’s timber and timber products, especially that of the lesser used species, providing more information on lesser used species in Guyana and how they can be utilised in building projects at lower costs, creating an environment where buyers and suppliers can engage directly in the local timber industry and buyers would be able to cash in on discounts on wood and wood products.
Minsters Cathy Hughes, Dominic Gaskin and David Patterson along with members of the private sector viewing the exhibits
Some 30 exhibitors from across the forestry sector including sawmillers, lumber yard dealers, value-added producers and exporters participated in the opening day showcasing what they have to offer to the Guyanese public.
A seminar will also be hosted during the three-day exposition on sustainable forestry mining. Facilitators include Conservation International Guyana, World Wild Life Fund and Iwokarama.
Delivering the feature address, Business Minister Dominic Gaskin underscored the importance of the event, noting that over the years Guyana has become the dumping ground for the world’s “cheap”, “substandard” products.
As a country that has one of the highest percentage of forest covers in the world, Guyana can do more, he highlighted.
Gaskin noted that Guyana needs to nurture and develop the nation’s resources in a way that can be used to its highest capacity.
“We are importing wood products in a country that has one of the highest percentages of forest cover in the world. This is happening because we have not nurtured or developed our nation resources in a way that fully exploits the value exchange associated with these resources. I do know that we are adding very little value to our timber before it leaves our shores, I cannot say what the wood that we export to various part of the world each year is used for but I know for a fact that we can earn a lot more if we were to export a greater proportion of that wood in value added products,” the Minister told the gathering.
Also delivering remarks at the Expo was the Chairperson of the Guyana Forestry Commission (GFC), Jocelyn Dow, who expressed her deep appreciation for the participation and the support that the Expo received.
She noted that as a result of the inclement weather, the booths had to be constructed under harsh conditions.
Also in attendance at the Expo were Natural Resources Minister Raphael Trotman; Public Communications Minister Cathy Hughes; Guyana Manufacturing and Services Association President, Shyam Nokta; Public Infrastructure Minister David Patterson; along with key members of the Private Sector
