Young entrepreneurs showcase products & services at mini expo

The Entrepreneurs Association for Sustainable Development held a mini expo on Wednesday last, aimed at promoting Guyanese entrepreneurs, at the Pegasus Hotel.
Several products from small businesses were on display and available for purchase at the expo. These included food, drinks, hair and skin products, décor, and custom wood carvings.
The annual event which was initially the Women Association for Sustainable Development was changed this year, to facilitate male entrepreneurs, according to the event organiser, Sonia Noel.
Members were able to access entrepreneurial development programmes to develop and sustain their businesses, mentorship sessions and access to marketing and networking opportunities.
President of the organisation, Romario Hastings said his hope is to target entrepreneurs who have little to no knowledge of launching businesses.
“The key value of this association is collaboration…We are an organisation that will promote collaborative arrangements, to serve as a mechanism to build robust social networks, to provide support to the status of business development. I believe that it is only through collaboration and building partnerships that we can strive in this country,” he said.
In August of this year, the Women’s Association for Sustainable Development conducted EXPO 50 for women-led small businesses at the Giftland Mall to mark the birth anniversary of the organisation’s founder, Sonia Noel.
At the expo, Guyanese businessman Stanley Ming and Eric Phillips were identified through the efforts of the Entrepreneurs Association for Sustainable Development in pursuit of its efforts to consolidate the growth of small women-led businesses.
Guyana Times spoke with some of the entrepreneurs who shared their stories.
The owner of Added Dazzel, Queen White stated, “This has helped us tremendously so far. It helped us in terms of marketing, how to set our profit for an item, it helped me to boost my confidence… I look forward to learning so much more”.
Meanwhile, the owner of Grace Products and Farms, Ann Rodrigues also said, “This event lends to help us, entrepreneurs, both male and females to be opened to a wider cross-section because for years I have been doing business, but behind the scene. However, I am now in the open”.