By Raphael Jov
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) has said it is expecting over 45 countries at the upcoming 2019 Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF).
The Chamber also said substantial part of the fair will be devoted to activities revolving around boosting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria.
The Director General of ACCI, Tonia Shoyele, made the disclosure while addressing journalists on the preparations for the 13th edition of the Fair, Monday in Abuja.
She said, “We are expecting not less than 45 foreign countries because we also organised trade missions to other countries so we expect that they will replicate. We already have about 43 registered and we are expecting to complete 45 before the commencement of the trade fair.”
She noted that Nigeria has over 80 percent of SMEs and over the years there have recorded a minimum of 30 countries participating in trade fair and the chamber is believing that its will be higher this year.
In the same vain, the Chairman of the 2019 organising committee and the Chamber’s Vice President for Commerce, Dr Johnson Anene, said, “The trade fair is a platform to promote Nigeria made products and provide a channel for person to person interaction between participating countries and stakeholders in Nigerian government to discuss possible investment opportunities and trade policies as its affect respective countries.
“The trade fair is an international trade fair, so we are expecting many international exhibitors and many company will be coming to launch their produce and seeks for partner.
“We are using this to promote investment because we need that investment in Nigeria to create job and contribute to the national economic growth,” he said.
He however noted that the Chamber has introduced the Roundtable framework to add value to the fair during which issues concerning the financing of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with particular attention to easing its access to capital and business support will be discussed and solutions profeered.
As according to him, the 2019 trade fair which holds from 21st-29th September promises to be more exciting, informative, create valuable business interactions and guarantee of impressive business deals by exhibitors and other categories of participants .
