President David Granger has urged the organisers and people of Linden to utilise the Linden Trade Fair and Exhibition as a platform and a basis for economic development.
The three-day event, which forms part of the Linden Town Week’s (LTW’s) calendar of activities, was opened inside the compound of the Linden Technical Institute (LTI) on Friday. It is being held under the theme “Exploring opportunities, empowering businesses in a green 2018”. It is organised by the Linden Chamber of Industry, Commerce and Development (LCICD), with support from the Linden Mayor and Town Council. The event, which wraps up on Sunday, features over 80 booths and exhibitors in the areas of agro processing, mining and forestry, manufacturing, furniture and handicraft, among other things.
President David Granger at the opening of the Linden Trade Fair and Exhibition
In delivering the feature address to mark the opening of the event, the Head of State noted that “new opportunities beckon” in the areas of manufacturing, food and agro processing, as well as jewelry and information and internet services.
“I would like to see this exhibition as a platform for innovation and introducing these technologies. So this exhibition is important for me. It will stimulate economic development in this region…We must stop being a nation of samples and start looking for markets on a grand scale, on an industrial scale… I would like to ask you to pay attention to the words of the Chairman of the Chamber, and also to my own expectation that this exhibition would be a springboard for the economic revival of this town and this region,” President Granger noted.
The President added that Linden, as a capital town, has a special responsibility not only to develop itself, but to develop the entire Region 10 (Upper Demerara-Berbice). He emphasised that the exhibition is also an opportunity to showcase the economy’s development.
As such, he urged the Chamber to incorporate people from outlying areas such as Ituni and Kwakwani during the hosting of such exhibitions in an effort to “show off” their produce.
“I am moved to tears when I see the efforts of housewives (and) young people, to put their best foot forward in this regional exhibition…So Linden and this exhibition must become a beacon for commerce…and also for manufacturing (and) industrialisation. And you must leverage your status as a capital town…as being central in the navel of Guyana…So this is a time, Linden, for uncrossing your arms.”
He urged improved packaging, bottling and marketing, noting that the exhibition must seek to be innovative in setting high standards for the marketing of local produce.
The President said the progress of the trade fair must be measured each year. He noted that it is not just a display of goods, but a manifestation of the spirit of Linden to overcome challenges and difficulties.
He said it must also improve to include a wider range of goods to satisfy the need of every Lindener.
The Head of State added that the Expo should be used as an opportunity to get out of the old mindset of just producing raw materials and to add value to these products to attract investment. “So let us bring these things together: investors, innovation, information technology and industrialization, and get Linden moving,” President Granger urged.
