BVI Trade Expo returns with over 30 exhibitors
Smith-Archer.
The Buy BVI Trade Expo 2025 will open its doors on September 19 with more than 30 exhibitors showcasing the strength and diversity of the territory’s business community.
The two-day event at the Multipurpose Sports Complex features a wide range of businesses, from banks and government departments to youth entrepreneurs and small local producers. Organised by the BVI Chamber of Commerce, the expo will highlight opportunities in technology, retail, wellness, and creative industries.
Shaina Smith-Archer, who spoke ahead of the event, stressed the value of business to the territory’s growth. “Without businesses, there are no jobs. Without jobs, there’s no money. So it’s a simple equation for me in terms of the work of the chamber to make sure that businesses are able to develop and grow,” she explained.
Smith-Archer said the expo was pushed back from May to September to allow momentum to build.
“We have over 30 booths and counting — everybody from BVI Electricity, [to the ]Labour Department. We’re also going to have the Elmore Stoutt High School Robotics Club. Because, again, all of these are things where we think about it, technology is the next wave,” she stated.
Sponsors this year include Republic Bank, CIBC, AZB Productions, and Unite BVI, which will cover registration fees for 10 small businesses. Exhibitors range from established names such as BVI Finance to youth-run ventures like Creative Kids Nation. NGOs, including the Diabetes Association, have also joined, providing health checks during the event.
The Expo features competitions for the best business pitch, most creative booth, and a People’s Choice Award, alongside door prizes donated by local businesses. A fashion show featuring local designers adds a new attraction to the line-up.
“We want to encourage people to bring their A game. Don’t just show up to kind of interact and vend. It is something where you move from having kind of like a hustle mentality to understand, again, business, this takes… marketing is part of it. Networking is part of it,” Smith-Archer urged.
The Buy BVI Trade Expo first launched in 1997 but was halted after Hurricane Irma in 2017 and the pandemic in 2020. It was revived in 2023 and has since grown steadily, with both established and first-time exhibitors taking part.
Smith-Archer underlined the broader message behind the event.
“Businesses locally, they pay taxes. And those taxes are what essentially take care of your social services in your country. So when we go and we shop online for everything, you know, we’re actually doing a disservice to ourselves because Amazon doesn’t pay tax,” she said.
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No locals will be hired…only asians and island people
I know what she meant by “Amazon doesnt pay Tax” and the context, highly inappropriate because we cant stop Amazon and will continue to shop on it. The BVI needs to boost businesses in every way.
The point is BVI Needs to get its act together.
Does the Chamber of Commerce host educational seminars for young entrepreneurs? Does it see that the Marketplace is ever Growing and life does not only begin and end in the BVI? What funding has it sought and has access to in order to help small businesses or even assist with a new Startup?? These are the areas we should be focusing on.
An Expo is good, but do we have money circulating in the economy as it should? What is the effectiveness of the EXPO? Has it been measured? and what are the results (for improvement purposes)?
We want to support Local Businesses but the prices to damm high.
Suggested this idea to Synchrony Bank already. Since there are a lot of banks/financial institutions at this expo I would like to make the suggestion of my idea to them.
Since there are a lot of people in the world who don’t qualify to have a bank account, gift card options are QUITE marketable. As long as someone has cash they can BUY a gift card. This group is a whole other customer base. A type of gift card that a person can purchase at a convenience store, for example, and load indefinitely at different types of locations – ATM , bank , stores, etc. for a very small fee being put on the market would be extremely revenue generating for ANY financial institution and, of course, different benefits/products can/should be attached to this product giving diversity to it. This also makes it so that MORE THAN ONE COMPANY can use this idea having different sales angles attached to it.
Suggested this idea to Synchrony Bank already. Since there are a lot of banks/financial institutions at this expo I would like to make the suggestion of my idea to them.
Since there are a lot of people in the world who don’t qualify to have a bank account, gift card options are QUITE marketable. As long as someone has cash they can BUY a gift card. This group is a whole other customer base. A type of gift card that a person can purchase at a convenience store, for example, and load indefinitely at different types of locations – ATM , bank , stores, etc. for a very small fee being put on the market would be extremely revenue generating for ANY financial institution and, of course, different benefits/products can/should be attached to this product giving diversity to it. This also makes it so that MORE THAN ONE COMPANY can use this idea having different sales angles attached to it.