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The 35th Enugu International Trade Fair is set to take place from Friday, April 5th to Monday, April 15th, 2024, at the Permanent Trade Fair Complex, off Enugu-Onitsha Expressway.
In a press briefing, the leadership of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (ECCIMA) called upon the governments of the five South Eastern states to bolster and champion the Enugu International Trade Fair, highlighting its status as the only international trade fair complex in the region, similar to the facilities in Kano and Lagos.
Presenting the Trade Fair under the theme ‘Promoting Made-in-Nigeria Products for Global Competitiveness,’ Odeiga Jideonwo, the newly elected president of ECCIMA, alongside his council members, announced that the fair would be officially opened by the Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Doris Uzoka-Anite.
“The preparation and planning for the hosting of this 35th edition started as far back as the beginning of the 3rd Quarter of last year and have made meaningful progress towards the successful hosting of the fair,” he said.
He mentioned that the challenging economic circumstances of last year, compounded by the cashless policy and national elections, impacted the fair, prompting the adoption of strategies to ensure a well-attended event this year.
Furthermore, the president emphasized that the fair has undergone strategic re-engineering to deliver meaningful and positive impacts and outcomes for all stakeholders, particularly exhibitors and participants.
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He further said that despite the insurance cover for the participants, the Chamber has decided to make the fair toll-free to attract some participants.
“Efforts are being consolidated towards bringing back to Enugu International Trade Fair, a number of big companies that stopped participating in our Fairs due to poor exhibition infrastructure at the complex. These companies have decided to join ECCIMA in its move to use PPP arrangement in developing the Enugu International Trade Fair,” he said.
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As part of efforts to enhance the Fair and provide added value, the Chamber has partnered with the Enugu State government to make available approximately 1000 square meters of Marquee Air-conditioned tents, ensuring the participation of all SMEs in the state.
According to the president of ECCIMA “The current economic challenges in the country as a result of the dwindling revenue from our mono foreign exchange earner, which is oil, calls for concerted efforts towards diversifying our nation’s economy. Hence, the need to promote made-in-Nigeria Products in global market to attract foreign exchange deficit.”
He emphasized that production holds the key to the economic emancipation of the nation and stated that the only way was to promote made-in-Nigeria products and diversify the economy.
