Guyana ’s non-traditional products showcased at Barbados Trade Fair
- continued efforts to boost agricultural exports
 
Georgetown, GINA, March 12, 2008.

Focus continues to be placed on promoting Guyana’s fresh and processed agricultural products in the region and elsewhere as part of efforts to seek more export markets and further boost the non-traditional sector.
            This was further highlighted during Guyana’s participation at AGROFEST 2008, Barbados’ premier agriculture trade fair and exposition, held from March 7th to 9th in Queens Park.
            Guyana was represented at the event by the Guyana Marketing Corporation (GMC) through which a variety of fresh produces were showcased including pumpkins, passion fruit, pineapples, watermelon, cassava, eddoes and butternut squash

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Guyana Display at Agrofest 2008

Among the large number of processed items displayed were jams and jellies, nut butter, guava cheese, fruit mix, curry powder, geera, Chinese sauce and meat and fish seasoning.
            At a media briefing today, GMC’s Marketing Manager Richard Hanif, who represented the Corporation at AGROFEST, said meetings were held with more than 25 persons who expressed interest in purchasing fresh and processed products in commercial quantities and investing in Guyana in areas of commercial farming and livestock with particular focus on Black Belly sheep, goats and cows.
            Business persons from Barbados also expressed interest in purchasing timber such as greenheart and purple heart and in the tourism sector with possible guided tours from Barbados to Guyana.
Additionally, meetings were held with potential buyers from other countries such as England, Jamaica and Trinidad and Tobago who indicated their willingness to engage in various business deals with Guyana.
These included the British Pig Farmers Association, Fair Trade Organisation, Entrepreneurs from Trinidad who are interested in purchasing coconut and passion fruits in commercial quantities.

Items on display at AGROFEST 2008

Exports of fresh fruits and vegetables from Guyana to Barbados have increased by approximately 32 percent in 2007 when compared to the previous year. In 2007, Guyana exported 4, 706 metric tonnes of fresh fruits and vegetables to the region of which 977 metric tonnes went to Barbados. Of the 3, 088 metric tonnes exported to the region in 2006, 740 metric tonnes were sent to Barbados.
 The non-traditional sector has been steadily growing over the years with annual increases in exports, which have moved from 1901 tonnes in 1992 to 7, 394 tonnes in 2007 valued at approximately $1.8B.
Exports from Guyana to the region include markets in Antigua and Barbuda, St Marten and Grenada while extra-regional markets are in Canada, France, United Kingdom (UK) and Switzerland.   

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