Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture(ECCIMA) will hold the 34Th Enugu Int’l trade fair on March 24TH-April 3RD, 2023..
Vice President , Trade Fair, Engr Nonye Osakwe, disclosed this in a pre- trade fair briefing held on Wednesday at ECCIMA Secretariat, G R.A ,Enugu.
He said that the 34th edition of the Enugu International Trade Fair will start on Friday, 24th March and run through Monday, 3rd April, 2023 at the International Trade Fair Complex, Golf Course, G.R.A, Enugu, adding that the theme of the Fair is “Harnessing Nigerian Human Capital Resources for Global Economic Advancement”.
He said that the Fair is expected to be declared opened by the Minister of Trade and Investment on behalf of the President and Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari..
Osakwe disclosed that the Chamber has made appreciable progress to ensure that the Fair is successfully held to the satisfaction of all stakeholders especially in election period.
“Let me emphasis here that even though we are passing through election and democratic transition in the country, yet we need to be upbeat about our economic affairs because the economy remains the centre piece of our survival, growth and development.
“The 34th Enugu International Trade Fair would therefore ,provide the cleavages to gauge the economic outlook of our nation, the attendant/available human capital market/opportunities that would be inclined to industrial development to make informed business and investment decisions,” Osakwe said.
He disclosed that a number of strategies had been put in place by the Chamber towards ensuring that all Stakeholders realize meaningful outcome from participation in this Fair including a number of side attractions that would interest the Public.
Osakwe expressed happiness people were making inquiries about the fair and the Chamber had put some strategies in place to achieve a successful fair.
“We have been receiving streams of enquires and interest from corporate organizations and institutions declaring interest to participate in the 34th Enugu International Trade Fair. This is a pointer to the expected success of the 34th Enugu International Trade Fair”, he said.
The Vice President Trade Fair highlighted some of the focal points of the Fair to include; “Identification and bringing to bare Nigerian Human Capital Resources that will attract the Global Economic market for the growth of our national economy.
“Boosting technological advancement by encouraging the participation of researchers, innovators and creative thinkers as a nexus towards commercialization of research findings including robust indulgence in the digital space.
“A more robust and flexible online platform for registration for participation in the Fair.
“Early publicity especially with the use of billboards since the 1st of December, 2022 within Enugu and its environs.
“Deepening the use of social media as a marketing mix to reinforce our conventional media publicity and outreach in promoting the fair. Introduction of early morning street mobile announcement platform to drive down rural and urban publicity to attract more visitors to the Fair.
“Provision of more air conditioned Tents to provide space for a number of foreign companies and embassy that have already indicated interest in participating,” he said.
According to him, “The Fair would also get more credence and attention towards boosting the Agricultural sector and particularly commercial farming for the much needed job creation and food security with the attendant linkages and value chain benefits through processing of raw materials/Agro Allied Industries. The aim is to further propel the development of the Small and Medium Enterprises which is key to our national development.”
He said that the fair has highest level of sponsorship in the recent times . Companies like Dangote, Nigerian Brewery Plc and Globalcom have shown serious interest in partnering with the Chamber to sponsor the 34th Fair.
“Concrete agreement with EEDC to ensure 24/7 electricity at the Fair complex within the period of the Fair.
Osakwe disclosed facilities at the trade fair complex had continued to be upgraded to provide a conducive environment for the hosting of the Fair.
“As we have continued to update facilities in the Trade Fair Complex within our limited resources, praying that the Federal Government would rise to its responsibilities to fully develop the Fair Complex.
“it is heartwarming to note that Enugu State remains a very peaceful landscape and since we began the hosting of the Enugu International Trade Fair, we have not experienced any security breach and we remain optimistic and prayerful that the 34th edition would not be an exception.
He called on people who were yet to collect their permanent voters card, to visit their Wards or INEC Local Government office to collect their PVC and ensure that their votes and the your are counted and also counts.
“This will be our own effort towards unleashing the industrial sector by voting in the right Human Capital with the needed capacity and competency to drive our national and state economies for the much talked about diversified productive industrial growth and the general economic development.
Fielding questions from newsmen, the president of ECCIMA, Barrister Jasper Nduagwuike, said that the Chamber was building 350 shops( Computer village) at the trade fair complex ,to boost the activities at the permanent site
The President on behalf of Council of the Chamber, formally presented the 34th Enugu International Trade Fair Brochure to the public.