PLANS are in high gear for Portmore Week 2006, which will be observed from April 23 to 29.

The annual celebration is designed to highlight the development of the municipality over the years, and showcase Portmore as an ideal location for investment.

Anita Lee, chairman of the organising committee for Portmore Week, noted that over the 12-year history of the event, a lot of businesses have been established in Portmore.

“It is meeting its mandate… we have seen a lot of business now coming into Portmore,” she told JIS News.

The committee chairman, who is the wife of Portmore mayor, George Lee said craft producers and retailers have also been encouraged to improve and increase the quality and quantity of their products that will be on display during the week of activities.

“We will also be inviting various ambassadors from the diplomatic corps to expose them to the various opportunities in business and tourism that Portmore offers and they will, in turn, pass this information on in their own countries, to the benefit of Portmore,” Lee said.

In addition, she also noted that attempts would also be made to bring about a heightened sense of unity and camaraderie among the various boroughs of the municipality. She hopes to accomplish this through the staging of ‘a better neighborhood’ competition, which offers nearly $200,000 in prize money.

This year focus for Portmore Week will be on the environment.