Minister Patterson to attend Infrastructure Forum in Macao, China

Minister of Public Infrastructure, David Patterson, will be attending the 7^th International Infrastructure Investment and Construction Forum (7^th IIICF), following invitation by China’s Ministry of Commerce and Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Government.

The event, which is organised by the China International Contractors Association and Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), will be held on June 2 and 3, 2016 in Macao, China.

Minister Patterson will be accompanied by his Financial and Management Adviser, Kenneth Jordan, and Senior Design Engineer attached to the Ministry, Jeffrey Walcott. The finances for the trip, including accommodation and transportation, are being covered by the Macao SAR Government.

The 7^th IIICF is being held under the theme “Innovating Construction – Finance Cooperation and Energising Infrastructure Development” and is expected to benefit Guyana as Minister Patterson will be seeking opportunities for strengthening ties and multi and bilateral cooperation. Minister Patterson will also provide profiles and make a presentation to the general forum. Projects to be presented include, but are not limited to:

• The Linden/Lethem Road
• Deep Water Harbour Facility
• Parika/Goshen Road
• Free And Easy to Sandhill Road
• Demerara Harbour Bridge
• Hinterland Electricity Supply, particularly a 5MW solar plant which is being considered for Berbice to avoid shutdowns, as recently seen in Onverwagt

During the trip, Minister Patterson and team will also take the opportunity to inspect Hong Kong’s Zhuhai-Macao Bridge Project; visit the Xiaolangdi Dam Project in Henan Province; and meet with potential infrastructure companies and investors to further promote Guyana’s projects.

In the context of integrated global and regional economic development, the forum will also address the innovative mechanisms for cooperation between the construction industry and the finance sector that can spur opportunities for infrastructure investment and development. There will also be a large number of exhibits, project promotions, and activities, as well as business-matching sessions for enhanced cooperation and exchange between the participating entities.

Since its establishment in 2010, six editions of the Forum have been successfully held. Over the past six years, the Forum has been developed into a high-powered professional, reliable, and effective platform. The forum serves as a valuable cooperation platform enabling Mainland Chinese enterprises to take an active part in an international event focused on infrastructure investment and construction.

Another event, the 2^nd China-LAC Infrastructure Cooperation Forum (2^nd CLICF), will run concurrent with the 7^th IIICF and Minister Patterson will also attended this event to further promote Guyana.