The ongoing 15th Edition of the Port-Harcourt International Trade Fair organized by the Port-Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHACCIMA) is said to be all inclusive with elaborate arrangements in place to achieve set goal.
The first Deputy President of PHACCIMA, Sir Mike Elechi disclosed this in a chat with newsmen at the trade fair in Port-Harcourt.
According to him, “the Trade Fair is not just about buying and selling, but the participant from around the world over are exhibiting their goods and making contact at the fair”.
He explained that the choice of Obi Wali International Conference Centre as venue of the fair was deliberate to create room for more activities in line with international best practices.
Eze, Sir Mike Elechi made it known that about 110 companies including Innoson Motors, are participating in the Trade Fair. “we have about 110 Exhibitors, big companies, aside the small micro organizations that are participating.
The first deputy president emphasized that this year’s “Trade Fair is all about innovation which has to do with how international trade fairs are organized everywhere in the world including Conference places and Seminars.
“That is why we choose this venue which gives room for all these activities happening including the big industries and banks because it is called international trade fair, and we need to exhibit all the industries that we have around”.
Sir Mike Elechi who was the Chairman Organising Committee explained that goods at the trade fair are pocket friendly and the fair segmented for every sector including the food sellers to exhibit their services.
“There is also a cultural day exhibition with variety of all the cultural materials at the cheapest price”. The Chief Executive Officer of Vintage Farms and Product Ltd, further disclosed that the gains of Trade Fair in the production and expansion of micro and macro companies and industries cannot be over emphasized in a growing economy and so calls for government and private partnership collaboration.
The Trade Fair started on the 9th of December, 2019 and ended on the 22nd December, 2019. The two weeks exhibition, many participant say was rewarding.
One Mr. Gabriel Olatunde from Ogun State said it was one of the most exciting trade fair he has witnessed as according to him, “I not only made profit from my goods but had many international contacts for future business”. Kofi from Ghana said he wished this type of Trade Fair would be organized every six months, “Apart from the profit from my goods , I also made friends as this is my first time in Nigeria”, he said.
Mrs. Mercy Amadi a food seller from Rivers State said it was worthwhile, “I am looking forward for another year’s Trade Fair “, She was full of gratitude for the perfect arrangement of the organizers of the Trade Fair.
However, Mr. Aliu Musa who deals on animal skin wears appealed to PHCCIMA to ensure that a ‘U’turn is opened on the Eliozu expressway close to the venue as well as to effect more publicity as according to him, “there were scanty buyers and costly stand price”.
Many Local Government stand were also observed to be empty throughout the fair.
It would be recalled that PHACCIMA in its elaborate consultation to ensure a successful outing had appealed to the media practitioners through a press briefing, for partnership in this regards especially for them to show-case to the world how safe and hospitable Rivers State is as against the negative impression created by the enemies of the state.
