BelPro ConEx 2006 kicks off at Princess Hotel

Over the weekend, consumers will have the opportunity to get up close and personal with some of the most successful Belizean businesses, thanks to the annual trade show, BelPro ConEx. News Five’s Janelle Chanona has more.

Janelle Chanona, Reporting
Today more than seventy businesses were busy setting up their booths at the Princess Hotel to display their products and services as part of the seventh annual Belizean Producers Convention and Exhibition. According to coordinator Martha Sanchez, this year?s event will include a little bit of everything.

Martha Sanchez, Coordinator, BelPro ConEx
?It is going to be huge. We are expecting a little over ten thousand people to visit our show this year. Some of the items and products that are going to be displayed and some of the services are: website design, furniture, not only from the Belizeans but also from the Spanish Lookout and Western Tractors. The tri-country Black Chamber of Commerce, they came here for international connections. Also we have the Belize Diabetes Association this year with us that?s going to be doing free blood tests. We have companies that are going to be giving away stuff to the children, to the adults and special prices. We are inviting everyone, the entire country of Belize to visit the show.?

This year participants of BelPro ConEx are also able to attend seminars organized by the Belize Trade and Investment Development Service. According to Executive Chair Lourdes Smith, trade shows highlight the success stories of Belizean entrepreneurs.

Lourdes Smith, Executive Chair, BELTRAIDE
?It opens people?s eyes as to the possibilities of what they can do. It gives them … if they could do that here, I must could do something, right? And you see every year that there are new products that are coming out. We have to give them the encouragement you know. People come out and see and appreciate. You see the products improving in quality, because they strive to improve in quality. We have to be able to compete locally before we can compete internationally.?

Reporting for News Five, I am Janelle Chanona.

Admission to the BelPro ConEx is three dollars adults, while children tickets cost two dollars each.