Local producers to showcase products at VIPO

Following a one month delay, the highly anticipated Vincy Innovators Expo – VIPO is set to get underway this coming weekend.{{more}}

Initially, the event was carded for March 22 to 24 at the cruise ship terminal in Kingstown, but the event will now take place at the Diamond Industrial Estate on Saturday and Sunday.

The expo, which is being hosted by Invest SVG, is designed to give local businesses the opportunity to showcase their products to the Vincentian community.

Patrons attending the two-day event can take advantage of the free mini spa treatments to be offered, and experience the culinary delight of the cooking corner, where Vincentian products would be used in the preparation of meals.

Local designers will also display their fashion lines. Door prizes, as well as other treats, will be awarded throughout the weekend, which would also see live entertainment by talented local Vincentians.

Seminars will also be conducted and are open to both patrons and participants of the expo.

Sessions will be conducted by the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) Unit to show how entrepreneurs can benefit from the agreement with the European Union. The Energy Unit will also be on hand to demonstrate effective ways to cut the cost of operation and conserve energy.

Acting executive director of Invest SVG Allan Alexander, speaking at a press conference yesterday, said the agency recognizes that world-wide, foreign direct investments have slowed down tremendously, and efforts have to be refocused in order to encourage investment and to help re-engineer economic development in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

“We specifically want to give individuals and businesses with a unique and innovative product made here in St Vincent and the Grenadines, the opportunity to showcase these products to the Vincentian public and to the region, in an effort to engage some level of economic activity and to build national product pride to some of the products that are produced locally,” he said.

Business facilitation manager at Invest SVG Nadine Agard is hopeful that the Vincentian public will utilize VIPO as an effective platform from which local entrepreneurs can launch their services and enhance their competitiveness.

Agard also thanked the participants who registered for the expo. She said preparations are on schedule for the commencement on Saturday.

“So, we are going along quite nicely with plans and we urge again the public to come out on the 27 and 28 to see VIPO and see what our nation has managed to produced on its own.

“We know we don’t operate in a vacuum. We want to get our produce to market both domestically and outside, so, please come out and give our people an opportunity for growth and development,” Agard added.

The Bank of St Vincent and the Grenadines (BOSVG), the Eastern Caribbean Group of Companies (ECGC) and Vincy Fresh are also partnering on this initiative.

Funding for VIPO is being provided by the Caribbean Export Development Agency (CEDA) through the European Union. (AA)