Tourism, Industry and Commerce Minister Susan Rodrigues urged Berbicians to “connect, collaborate, and support local businesses” as the 2025 Berbice Exposition and Trade Fair opened on Friday at the Rose Hall Estate, Canje Ground.
The annual exposition features a strong focus on trade, tourism, and infrastructure-driven growth.
The four-day event, which concludes on November 3, includes exhibitions, cultural performances, and business networking opportunities, drawing hundreds of participants eager to explore locally made products, arts and crafts, and innovative business ventures.
Rodrigues described this year’s expo as a celebration of Berbice’s transformation and its growing role in Guyana’s national development.
“This year’s expo comes at an important time. Berbice is changing rapidly. We are seeing renewed energy in agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, and trade—all backed by major infrastructure development and new investment across the region,” she said.
Among key projects, Rodrigues highlighted the soon-to-be-completed Palmyra Stadium, the planned Corentyne River Bridge connecting Guyana and Suriname, and the new Tourism and Hospitality Institute—set to open in about eight months—which she called a “game changer” for the sector.
She also cited the construction of a 150-room hotel and convention centre at Plantation Prospect, expected to create jobs and expand business opportunities for small suppliers and service providers.
Tourism continues to grow, Rodrigues said, noting that 242,655 visitors arrived between January and July 2025—an 18 per cent increase over the same period last year. She projected total arrivals of 400,000 by year-end, advancing toward the government’s goal of one million visitors by 2030.
The President of the Central Corentyne Chamber of Commerce said the expo empowers Berbicians to take full advantage of the country’s economic transformation. He pointed to new housing projects, the gas-to-energy project, and major developments at Palmyra as “tangible signs of progress in our own backyard.”
“This expo connects local businesses and entrepreneurs to greater opportunities. By linking traditional industries with new technologies and markets, it showcases Berbice’s talent, products, and potential—fostering investment, collaboration, and modernisation,” he said.
Also attending were Natural Resources Minister Vickram Bharrat, regional officials, and members of the business community.
The expo continues through the weekend with exhibitions, games, entertainment, and special deals highlighting the creativity and enterprise of the Berbice region.
