Annual Buy BVI Trade Show Was A Bid Success
Some 40 local businesses had the unique opportunity to display the goods and services they offer, during a 3-day trade show mounted at the HLS Community College last weekend. The BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association organized the 4th annual BUY BVI Trade Show, in collaboration with the government's Trade and Investment Promotion Department and the HLSCC.
Trade Show Committee Chairperson Mrs. Delores Christopher, at the opening ceremony, acknowledged the unstinting support from a number of prominent businesses in the territory, which continue to support and sponsor the event. "We are pleased at the progress and success the show has achieved thus far; most definitely, the expectation that the BUY BVI Trade Show would encourage more local spending, has been met and we hope that it will continue to trigger increased business opportunities." She recognized the support of the HLSCC in this venture this year, in support of the efforts which began in 1997. She said this pooling of ideas, energies and resources would bring about the positive results envisioned in the goals and objectives of this trade show. "I must (also) mention that this show would be impossible without our exhibitors."
Chairman of the BVICCHA Mr. Kedrick Malone said this year's trade show was the biggest and best-looking, thanks to their new booth configuration, Mr. Popeye and the beautiful environment at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community. "I think this is the perfect place to have a trade show...I think we've found a home at the H. Lavity Stoutt Community College...given the space and given the access and just given the beautiful atmosphere here at the Community College." He said given the space, they will be catering for a hundred booths next year. The BVICCHA Chairman commended the exhibitors for coming out to display their goods and services, even though the numbers were down from last year. "The concept of buying BVI is a very simple one and I think one that we all agree with - we have to support our own economy," he stated. He noted that the residents of the BVI traditionally go off island to shop, but he contended that the BVI of yesterday is not the BVI of today. He said everyday this community is changing with new businesses coming in and the existing businesses offering new services. "So, the opportunity, on an annual basis, to show what is new in the BVI, what the BVI has to offer, is one that no business in the BVI should turn away."
Mr. Rodney Skelton offered remarks on behalf of the Acting Chief Trade Officer Mr. Alexis Harrigan. He said the annual trade show is of monumental significance to the continued growth and sustained strength of our economy. He said it has and will continue to provide a venue for our local products to be advertised worldwide. "Our local entrepreneurs and businesses have been presented with the opportunity to market themselves and build a network of business ties throughout the Caribbean and the world at large," Mr. Skelton added. "It is the hope then and goal of the BUY BVI Trade Show, to eliminate the need for us to have to go off island to meet our needs, but rather bring to the realization the fact that most of the goods we see are not only available here but are actually assembled here." President of the HLS Community College Dr. Charles Wheatley reiterated his philosophy for the College, that it is the community's possession. "Government invested in it to serve the community...and I feel that it is here to serve the entire country, not only the students," he mentioned. He said he therefore readily agreed to its use for the trade show when he was approached.
He said the College is a significant part of the BVI society and efforts like these are opportunities for individuals to be able to become aware of the potentials of the College. On the other hand, it is an opportunity for the College to see how the community operates and provide some insight into the trading activities of the territory. "These insights are important to us as we strive to fulfil our mission, part of which is to provide opportunities to help the business community to grow, not only in courses and so forth, but in general, as we try to keep abreast with world trends in commerce and for the people to acquire the necessary skills to be successful in their businesses," Dr. Wheatley stated. He said it is important for all persons engaged in business to understand the culture of the environment in which they operate. Referring to one of the goals of the trade show, to try to reduce the amount of money that buyers spend outside the territory, the HLSCC President noted that this is not always driven by the search for cheaper prices. He suggested that other factors could include the variety of choice, the availability of goods, privacy in transaction and good shopping environments. "We have to try to understand the forces which drive people overseas and try to address them." For his part, Chief Minister and Minister responsible for Trade and Investment the Honourable Ralph O'Neal, in his capacity as Chairman of the Board of Governors of the College, endorsed the use of the premises as the site for future trade shows.
Speaking to the workshop held before the opening of the trade show on e-commerce, Hon. O'Neal announced that he was informed by the Attorney General that draft e-commerce legislation is about ready for consideration by Executive Council. "And therefore, we will soon have the legislation about e-commerce for public consideration and for consideration by the Legislators." The Minister said he looks at trade license applications with a lot of care and concern. He said he sometimes wonder whether the applicants, while they might have the capital, have any business training. He said he was very pleased to see the efforts of Dr. Clement Hill through a training programme for entrepreneurs.
"We want to continue that, because we must have some sort of training in business in order to do business successfully," the Chief Minister commented. He said government would continue to use the facilities of the HLSCC to carry out such seminars. Mr. O'Neal assured the BVICCHA of his government's continued support for this trade show. He noted that trade is one of the key components of a country and one of the aims of his government is to continue to develop a partnership between the private sector and the government, in order to keep the wheels of trade turning.
He said government has been doing this in many ways, through concessions to various small businesses and will continue to give exemptions of customs duties under the Pioneer Services Enterprises Ordinance. He said government recognizes that freight charges in the BVI are about 3 or 4 times higher than the neighbouring USVI, leaving our local merchants who import from America at a great disadvantage. "Coupled with that, we have what I would call...confusion with our customs duties...and we are trying to regularize that," the Minister declared. He ended by commending the BVICCHA for continuing this trade show and he hopes there will in fact be about a hundred booths next time around. He challenged the association to study the reasons why so many BVI residents go off island to shop and look into remedying this and encourage people to buy local. Exhibitors at the 2000 trade show, which ran from October 20th-22nd, included Microscopy Nutritional Services, Roadtown Wholesale, the Caribbean Weather Centre, Nautool Machines Ltd., the Public Library, Caribbean Essence, CCT Boatphone, CAT Enterprises, Eye of the Storm Photography, Corea's Business Services, Cable & Wireless, Focus Targeted Marketing, Island Corporate Services and Mills Specialties Merchandise.