More than 30 exhibitors showcased their products and services at the Department of Commerce and Investment’s (DCI) first Small Business Expo on Thursday, 11 April.

Expo attendees visited a wide selection of booths in the areas of retail, home improvement, and business service providers, and commented positively about the value of the event to the business community.

Exhibitors said they appreciated the expo’s multipronged approach towards marketing, networking and learning, and congratulated DCI for organising it. Some of the business owners made sales, booked orders, or made service appointments on the spot.

Another highlight of the event, and one that was particularly well received by students from various schools and learning institutions, was the business workshops. Acting DCI Director Mr Ryan Rajkumarsingh said, ‘I was especially pleased to hear from teachers that this expo contributed significantly to the school-based assessments, allowing students to gain additional knowledge from the workshops to complete their assignments.’

Attendees and exhibitors also took advantage of this opportunity to gain knowledge and insights into important aspects of what it takes to start a small business and run it successfully.

Staff at the DCI booth fielded questions from persons wanting to find out more about trade and business licensing procedures, as well as the support services that the department offers to small business owners.

“I thank our sponsors and exhibitors for having the confidence in us to support this event”, Mr Rajkumarsingh said. “It shows that DCI is having a positive impact on the business community, and we look forward to further raising awareness of our services to assist them.

“I also thank the event staff for their hard work in ensuring that everything flowed smoothly, and the workshop facilitators for presenting in such a clear manner that attendees really got a lot out of the sessions,” he concluded.

Photo captions:

PR_3: Attendees visit the DCI booth and speak to business development advisers.

PR_2: Keynote speaker Kent Rankin and his son, Gary Rankin, tell the audience about their family business.