Expo 2004 showcases local products

The annual exposition of Belizean products and services opened this evening on the grounds of the Saint John’s College Gymnasium in Belize City. Over a hundred and fifty display booths will give the public a chance over the weekend to see some of what the productive sector has to offer the local and export markets. Whether in agriculture, merchandising or manufacturing, Coordinator of Expo Belize, Sybil Eiley, says that for the eighth consecutive year, visitors to the show will get a chance to appreciate the work of the private sector.

Sybil Eiley, Coordinator, Expo Belize 2004

?We have IT?s; we have people from the banking industry; we have agriculture; we have manufacturing; people in the merchandising sector; we have the diplomatic people here; we have the Chamber of Commerce from Guatemala here. And they are displaying about three booths. We have the food court where all our business people come out and display the different food that we have.?

Patrick Jones

?What is the overall objective of having an Expo??

Sybil Eiley

?The overall objective of having an expo is for all our business people to come out and see what our Belizean manufacturers and producers have to offer.?

?It has grown tremendously. This year we had to expand on the food court area on the ground to accommodate more booths. So it definitely has grown.?

In addition to the displays, Eiley says there will be activities for children as well as entertainment provided by the New Creations and Youth Connections bands. Entrance fee is three dollars for adults while children pay one dollar. According to an official of the Belize Chamber of Commerce and Industry which organises the Expo, this year forty-eight percent of the participants are in the services sector, twenty-four percent merchandising, ten percent manufacturing & agriculture, eleven percent diplomatic and international community and seven percent new businesses. The show is open from nine to five on both Saturday and Sunday.