International Building Expo 2025: “We are on track; we will be ready” – Housing Minister signals readiness

With final preparations underway, Housing and Water Minister, Collin Croal has assured the public that the International Building Expo 2025 will open on schedule this Thursday, August 14, at the Guyana National Stadium tarmac.
Speaking during a site walkthrough on Monday, the Minister declared the event “98 per cent ready,” with only three exhibitor booths still available, a figure expected to reach full capacity by the end of the day.

The expo, running from August 14 to 17 under the theme “The Road to Success: Guyana 2030 and Beyond,” will feature over 380 booths – including a dedicated equipment zone – and exhibitors from more than 10 countries. International participants will represent nations such as Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, the Dominican Republic, Brazil and Suriname, alongside a strong contingent of local businesses in the construction and building sector.
Croal credited the organising team for maintaining progress despite the logistical challenges posed by other major events at the stadium.

“In terms of the Ministry’s preparation, we’re by and large complete. What is happening right now is for the individual booths, in terms of their wrapping and preparing of their area. And so based on the size of their booth, they will decide how they put their layout. So, it’s the persons – all those who have their respective boot spaces – it’s for them to complete the work and ensure that the electrical, everything is in place, because that’s something that is required”.
“So, I want to commend first of all, the team that is working to ensure that we’ll be ready for Thursday. And yes, we are on track and we will be ready for the launching at 5 pm on Thursday, the 14th of August,” the Minister declared.

Land titles
A key feature of this year’s expo will be the “Dream Realised” housing initiative, running from August 15 to 17. Over 2,000 land titles will be processed and distributed on-site, along with agreements of sale for new housing developments at La Bonne Intention (LBI) Phase Three and another East Coast Demerara (ECD) location.
Approximately 1,000 persons will be called over three days to complete the necessary paperwork, allowing them to secure ownership without additional visits to the Ministry.
“We have insurance companies, we have the financial institutions. This is an opportunity for you to network, to be able to acquire as much information that if you want to go on to acquire a lot, what are the requirements? If I want to borrow X amount, how much do I need to have up to? What do I need to do to be able to borrow that amount? So, all that information is available. And we also have persons who are going to showcase innovative technology in construction. So, it’s not just about seeing the cement and blocks construction. You’ll see even in terms of different types of innovation, prefab, et cetera,” Croal disclosed.
President Dr Irfaan Ali will deliver the feature address at the opening ceremony, a significant moment, Croal reminded, given that the expo was first launched when Ali was housing minister.
The event was suspended during the APNU/AFC (A Partnership for National Unity (APNU) /Alliance For Change) administration and could not be held immediately after the PPP/C returned to office due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

PPP vs APNU/AFC performance
Croal contrasted the current administration’s performance with that of its predecessor, citing the Government’s allocation of nearly 52,000 house lots since 2020, far exceeding the coalition’s 7,500 allocations in five years.
“We have undeniably, we have shown our commitment to the housing programme. We said we will allocate 10,000 annually. We have surpassed that. We are close to 52,000 on the actual house lot allocations…so that has been met. To do that, to match that is the resources for the infrastructure. And therefore, when we talk about $300 billion investment in the sector, it’s a lot of money. It’s no – that’s no chicken feed money. And that shows you Government commitment to ensure that the programme – that as a citizen, you must be able to access your own home or your own lot,” he added.
Beyond construction and building products, the expo will also showcase consultancy services, financial institutions, insurance providers and companies introducing innovative building technologies, including prefabricated housing models.
The Minister stressed that the event is not only about displaying materials but also about connecting the public with information on financing, land acquisition, and sustainable community development.
The Government has designed the expo as a family-friendly experience, with a southern food court, recreational areas for children, and nightly entertainment starting August 15.
Children will enter free of charge, while adults will pay a small fee on non-opening nights. Gates will open daily until 23:00h, and traffic management and parking arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth access for the thousands expected to attend.