A contract has been signed with a Chinese company for the construction of an international convention centre that could be ready in 14 months.
This agreement and one for the visit of a team of 15 Chinese doctors were signed yesterday at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Signing the contract for construction of the Guyana International Conference Centre (GICC) were the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Works and Communication, Kenneth Jordan and Chinese team leader, Zhao Zhongning, General Manager of the Foreign Aid Section of China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC).
The centre will be located near the New Caricom Secretariat Headquarters, Liliendaal and will be used by the Government of Guyana, the Caricom Secretariat, and other local, regional, and international organisations to host meetings. The construction will be funded through grant aid provided by the Chinese government.
Meanwhile Minister of Foreign Trade and Inter-national Co-operation Clement Rohee and Ambassador of the People's Republic of China, Song Tao concluded the Fourth Guyana-China Medical Protocol that aims to facilitate continuous medical co-operation between the two countries.
Tao noted that his government would be granting US$5M to the Guyana Government for the construction of the Guyana Inter-national Convention Centre (GICC). It would be a multi-functional building with a 350-person main conference hall, five meeting rooms, and an exhibition hall, training classrooms, dining rooms and places for other functions.
As for the five medical teams they are coming to Guyana with one faith on their minds, "to heal the wounded and rescue the dying and do whatever they can to assist the Guyanese people."
Prime Minister Sam Hinds also expressed gratitude to the Chinese for their generosity. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Trade and International Co-operation, John Isaacs chaired the proceedings. Also present at the signing was the Minister of Public Works and Communi-cation, Anthony Xavier.