The Aba International Trade Fair will hold from Nov.12 to Nov. 22, Chief Eleanya Okoroji, President of Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), has said.
Okoroji told newsmen in Aba on Saturday, that the fair had received the support of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA).
“NACCIMA has licensed ACCIMA to organise the trade fair to boost the image of Nigeria and it would be the best of its kind. We are ready to give Nigeria’s economy a boost,’’ he assured.
Okoroji said that the ACCIMA was partnering AIITEX Consortium to ensure the success of the trade fair aimed at repositioning garment and leather, which Aba was mainly noted for.
?He said that the theme of the fair “Boosting Nigeria’s Economy through Production for Export’’ was also aimed at revitalising and diversifying Nigerian economy in general and Aba business environment in particular.
He said that it would also promote Nigeria’s non-oil exports, made-in-Nigeria products and agriculture and agro-based industry, among others.
Okoroji said that participants from China, Vietnam, South Korea and Turkey had made commitments to participate in the fair.
He said that the organisers were liaising with various embassies alongside Federal and state governments to ensure adequate security for both the foreign and local participants.
He commended the support of the state governor, Chief Theodore Orji, to the business community in Aba, particularly on security which had brought improved business activity to the commercial city.
?Mr Philip Ekwempu, the chairman of the trade fair management team, said that it was anticipating about 200, 000 visitors from within and outside the country, including businessmen, foreign and local investors.
He said that participation was open to business organisations in Nigeria, overseas organisations, governments, ECOWAS member states, diplomatic missions and trade representatives.
According to him, made-in-Aba television programme, business round tables for five days and beauty show have been packaged to make the fair a unique event.
Mr Chucks Okoye, a member of the planning committee, urged investors and businessmen, particularly Nigerians to avail themselves of the opportunity to improve on their enterprise.
He said that Aba was the epicenter of business in the South East and a gate way to the oil rich Niger Delta serving as a natural trade route both by rail and road to various Nigerian cities.
“Nigeria is the largest market in Africa with unique opportunities for trade and investment in almost all its economic sectors and the timing of the fair is a unique opportunity,’’ he said.
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