THE 21ST ENUGU INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR

Trade Fairs are general exhibitions usually organised to afford companies in a specific industry the opportunity to showcase and demonstrate their latest products and creations to the public.

In Nigeria however, Trade Fairs go beyond exhibition as much of buying and selling of  all manner of goods take place. They are usually popular because consumers take advantage of these fairs to make purchases directly from manufacturers at a discount.

FRCN stand at the 21st Enugu International Trade Fair

It also affords the consumer the opportunity to get abreast of new improvement on existing products.
Fairs such as the Enugu International Trade Fair also create opportunity for interaction between genuine local and foreign manufacturers, and the exchange of ideas translate to continuous improvement of the quality of products manufactured in the country.

This is perhaps why the Enugu International Trade Fair, organised annually by the Enugu State Chamber of Commerce and Industry Mines and Agriculture, ECCIMA, has become so popular not only in the South-East of Nigeria but also in other parts of the country and beyond.

Marketing staff of ENS	ENS Staff

The latest Enugu International Trade Fair being the 21st, which began on the 19th and ended on the 29th of March, was acclaimed by most as very successful. The Fair could not have come at a better time when the federal and state governments are seeking ways of reviving the manufacturing sector as one of the steps towards a non oil economy.

The quality of Nigerian made consumer products, industrial equipment, metal fabrications and others fields on display at the fair were testimonies to the fact that the manufacturing sector of the economy is on a steady path of growth and ready to contribute to the growth of the economy despite drawbacks, the major one being inadequate power supply.

Programmes Staff of ENS	ENS Staff

At the opening of the Fair, held for the first time at the permanent grounds along the Enugu Onitsha Expressway, Enugu, the President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce Industry Mines and Agriculture, Mr. Okechukwu Nwadinobi  made a passionate appeal to the Federal government. He wants the Central Government to urgently revive the power sector, rehabilitate road network in the South-East zone, developed the Enugu International Trade Fair Complex and fast track the rehabilitation of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport, as these were serious factors hampering the organised private sector, especially the South East zone from contributing adequately to the growth of the economy.

Federal government said it is committed to addressing the challenges facing the real sector of the economy through diversification of the economic base from oil to non-oil export. This was stated by the Acting President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in a message at the opening ceremony of the trade fair. He was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry Of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Abubakar Mohammad.