He was taken on an almost one-hour walkabout at the exhibition centre where he was briefed at every stage by Minister of Tourism, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Manzoor Nadir on the progress being made in getting the site ready for next week's opening of what has become Guyana's largest trade exposition and trade fair, known as GUYEXPO.

After his tour of the complex and chatting with construction workers, Mr. Jagdeo lauded Nadir and his team for the work and vision put into developing the site from the dilapidated state that it was before into one that would make Guyana and Guyanese proud.

The President said he is "very satisfied" and "really impressed" with the ongoing construction work and urged that after all the work has been completed, the facility should not be allowed to degenerate and deteriorate.

"I am really impressed with the work that has been done so far and I want to congratulate Minister Nadir and his staff and all the people who have worked with him - the Deputy Mayor, the Mayor and City Council and the other agencies that have collaborated to bring the complex up to this shape," Mr. Jagdeo told reporters afterwards.

"I think it's in the best shape that I have ever seen it and I hope that we don't fall back on this progress and we can continue from here towards developing it even further," he said.

The President also said he was sure, based on what he had seen yesterday in terms of "the detailed amount of preparation", that this year's GUYEXPO would be a tremendous success.

"I hope that it would receive the full support not just of the business community, because from the interest and the registration that I have seen, the business community is very enthusiastic about the exhibition, but Guyanese from all over the country should come and see the wonderful things that we are producing in this country; things that can make us very proud and which can also help to transform our country," he said.

"I'm really, really impressed with what I have seen in the amount of work and vision that went into developing this place."

It is understood that some $26.5M has already been spent on the ongoing construction, rehabilitation and renovations to the sprawling exhibition centre which has more than 170 booths, all of which have been sold out for the massive trade exposition.

Nadir noted that the budgeted figure has been revised several times over the past few weeks.

"Right now we're just about $26.5M and by the end of the week it would be about $27M since we've just had another $500,000 in street lamps coming in today (yesterday)," he said.

"And as I have been saying all along, it's not additional money from the Treasury; we've had a great response from the private sector (and) the sale of the booths has been overwhelming and as the money comes in we are ploughing it into the complex itself," he explained.

According to him, the $26.5M includes $5M spent on the back fence, $4M on the roofs and $5M on a new generator set.

In terms of overseas participation at the trade exposition, Nadir said "they are coming in quite well right now". It is understood that some 12 countries including Trinidad, Suriname, Barbados, St. Lucia, Brazil, St. Vincent, Korea and the U.S. Virgin Islands have already indicated that they will be participating.

There would also be teams from Canada and the Guyanese community in the United States which have indicated that they will be attending and participating.

Advisor to the President on Investment, Mr. Manniram Prashad, who accompanied the President on the walkabout, also expressed optimism that GUYEXPO 2002 will be "the biggest and best exhibition ever", one that would even rival any that was held in the Caribbean.