Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) will hold the 33rd Enugu International Trade Fair from March 25 to April 4, 2022.
This was made known by the President of ECCIMA, Sir Emeka Nwandu, on Wednesday during the pre-fair briefing and the launch of the 33rd Enugu International Trade Fair Catalogue & Marketing , held at the ECCIMA Council Chamber, ECCIMA House, Abakaliki Road, GRA, Enugu
The president, who was represented by the 1st Vice President of ECCIMA, Jasper Nduagwuike, said that the Chambers started early to correct the mistakes of the past and to create publicity about the fair. He announced that 250 exhibitionists were expected at the Fair.
He also said that they would have four tents to make it more conducive for exhibitors to exhibit their wares.
Nduagwuike, who said that the fair would be mostly an indoor fair, disclosed that there may be a long hall and that the Chambers was “making efforts to see that the fair would be to better organised”.
The Vice President assured that security would be provided, so that exhibitors and participants would be protected and to encourage participants and exhibitors.
The Theme of the Fair, he said, is, “Opening up Nigeria Business Window for Competitiveness in the emerging global markets”.
“We hope to have higher patronage”, he said.
Nduagwuike appealed to the media to give the Fair a wide publicity for it to be successful.
Fielding questions from Newsmen, Nduagwuike disclosed that the Council would ensure that both exhibitors and wares at the Fair would be insured for the period of the Fair.
He explained that the insurance policy arrangement would make good, any damage, be it fire, flood or accident on the goods/ exhibitions displayed within the trade Fair Complex.. “If there is an accident the people would be duly compensated .That would boost their morale,” he said
On the problem of infrastructure, Nduagwuike said, the problems of manufacturers in the South East is not perculiar only in the zone.
“We believe that the Fair is a good place for manufacturers to market what they have”.
He hinted that the Council had been making cases for the completion of the infrastructural development at the permanent site of the Enugu International Trade Fair Complex, Golf Estate, G R.A, Enugu.
“Organisation of the fair should be viewed from a national context. ECCIMA simply boosts the Fair on behalf of Nigeria. It’s Nigeria that is being displayed. Any foreigner that comes there would say Nigeria’s Trade Fair Complex is poor.
We have been having serious engagement with the Federal Government and they promised to do something.
Four different delegations from the federal ministry of industry had visited the complex recently to assess the level of development at the complex and to know areas of intervention. He called on the federal government to hasten the development of the infrastructure at the complex as done in Kaduna and Lagos states.
It’s Nigeria that is being showcased ,” he said.
The 1st Vice President appealed to the federal government to re-open the Akanu Ibiam international airport, Enugu, saying that ,”The South East deserves a functional international airport.Most goods coming to Onitsha and Nnewi were from Murtala Mohammed international airport, Lagos. If the Enugu International airport is in operation , it will be easier for the traders to travel and bring down their goods .
So, we will continue our advocacy that Akanu Ibiam International airport ,Enugu start operation.”
On construction of pavilions, he cleared the air that spaces were not sold to contractors or marketers to construct pavillions, rather, people do the construction themselves.
“There is huge possibility that we may just have a hall at the space. We will have more of aindoor than opn space”, Nduagwuike said
He said that the organisation of the trade fair needed to be viewed in its national context as an exercise that would display the economic potentials of the country.
“ECCIMA is just the host of the trade fair displaying Nigeria to the world. Therefore, we need to carry out the exercise in a conducive
Earlier in his opening remarks, the Director- General(DG,) ECCIMA, Engr. Henry Nduka Awuregu, said that the briefing was to intimate newsmen on the 33rd Enugu International Trade Fair and the unveiling of the catalogue , marketing for. a successful trade Fair.
Council members and staff present at the event were the 1st Vice President, Barrister Nduagwuike, second vice president, Odeiga Jideonwo, Engr Nnonye Osakwe, Dr Emma Nwankpa( V P. Publicity and Publications), Mrs Oriyomi Obidigbonember(welfare) , the DG, Engr. Henry Nduka Awuregu, Pastor Makua Udeigwe(V.P., works) and Uche Chibike( manager Research).
