The annual Expo Belize 2006 officially opened this evening at the Landivar Gym on the campus of St. John's College. While today was reserved for formalities, the actual day of activities is tomorrow. Every year and now in its tenth year, business houses, movers and producers of every available product in Belize pull out their stocks and take it to the throngs of potential customers who will stream through the gym. The Chamber's Dionne Miranda explains that the show promises to be better in its 10 anniversary.
Dionne Miranda, Chamber of Commerce
"This is our tenth anniversary so it has to be a lot more special. In fact if you walk the grounds right now you're going to see the professionalism that is out there because this year we are actually going to have a best booth pick and this best booth receives up to almost five thousand dollars in prizes. We have a best customer service booth and a best appearance booth and cumulatively what the best booth actually is. We're having over a 120 exhibits out there; food, drinks, music.
We do it because during September is a slow period for business people because a lot of people are thinking more about clothes and fashion and all that kind of stuff. They are not really thinking business, purchasing, industry, and all that. So we realize that we needed to do something to boost them during this period. People are saving up for Christmas as well.
During these two days, some of our members make well into the thousands in terms of returns. So even the investment in setting up a booth and paying staff, they get it back plus more within the two days. So it is actually a little burst for them when that slow season, especially after GST and all that, they are going to see a burst in terms of business for their companies."
Expo opens to the public tomorrow morning and will run until Sunday.
