Producer’s exposition opens Friday

On Friday evening, this year’s BelPro ConEx gets underway inside the King’s Room at the Princess Hotel. The three-day event is held to promote products made in Belize, and the 2002 version promises to be bigger, better and full of good deals for the public. According to organiser Lourdes Smith, President of the Belize Business Bureau, the annual show not only highlights what can be found on the local market, but is held to encourage young people to get involved in the private sector.

Jacqueline Woods

“I notice that preparations are well underway for the annual show. Tell us how many companies will be highlighting their products this year.”

Lourdes Smith, President, Belize Business Bureau

“There’s about fifty-one companies that will be here at BelPro ConEx 2002, which is almost double from last year. So we really anticipate a good, good show and we encourage people to come out here and see what is going to be happening and all the products that are being exhibited.”

Jacqueline Woods

“How successful has the show been? Have you gotten feedback from the companies who’ve taken part?”

Lourdes Smith

“Yes. At the end of the last show we did a questionnaire and the feedback was very positive. There were some companies who made sales, established contacts, or appointments for further sales at the show, and they were very, very happy over all for having participated. What was expressed to us was the interest also from the youth in the processes that go into producing the products. And that made me happy because it’s one of the goals that we set forth; not only to show what is produced in Belize, but how it is produced, what is entailed. And maybe to inspire people to also go into the productive sector.”

The Belizean Producers Convention and Exhibition officially opens on Friday at 6:00 p.m. The general public is invited to support the event. Admission is only a dollar.