The 2022 Asaba International Trade Fair has opened in grand style with the theme “Building A Business Development And Networking Hub”.
The opening ceremony which took place at the Trade Fair centre at the Cenotaph in Asaba, was declared open by the Governor of Delta State, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, ably represented by Mr. Felix Oseji on Friday 16th December, 2022.
The Governor while commending the organisers – Asaba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ASACCIMA), for their thoughtfulness to bring about a business community that drives economic viability and advancement, urged them to leverage on technology driven commerce for quicker and digital oriented results.
He said that Trade Fairs and Exhibitions help to provide the platform for the exchange of ideas for buying and selling to take place.
While encouraging business owners to have the faith that things will take a new shape as they persevere in building a veritable business community, he therefore urged them to take the issues of Smalll and Medium Enterprises, SMEs seriously as the drivers of every economy.
He made references to the opportunity provided by the recent Sports Festival in Asaba where small business owners were able to maximise their profits by virtue of such sporting event.
Earlier in his opening remark, the Chairman of the occasion, Ogbueshi Afam Obiagor spoke of his long cordial affiliation with the Chamber Movement in Asaba and how that relationship had helped to shapen his horizon and contributed to his assignment as the Executive Assistant to the Governor on Economic Affairs.
He urged the Chamber Movement to leverage on adequate publicity of her programmes going forward, adding that there is a lot the media could do in ensuring the success of any event.
In his address of welcome read by the DG of ASACCIMA, Mr. Edwin Chukwumah on behalf of the President, Chief Anthony Idigbe SAN, he acknowledged the support and collaboration of the State Government under Senator Ifeanyi Okowa and of course, the Ministry of Trade and Investment, under Mr. Churchill Amagada as Commissioner.
According to him, “Trade Fair creates awareness for networking and breaking of new grounds in business. We are very optimistic that this event will enable participants to achieve this objective and also make good sales. I thank all the representatives of public and private sector stakeholders here present, for creating time out of their tight schedules to be part of this epoch making event, which is key to the development of our economy”.
While enjoining industrialists and manufacturers to improve on the quality of their products in order to be competitive in both local and international markets, the Chamber President also advocated to government for; a reduction of regulatory obstacles faced by businesses, improvement of access to intervention funds for business development and, improvement of infrastructures including power, road, network, etc which will add value to businesses.
However, opportunities were provided for the representatives of the Nigeria Export Promotion Council and the National Health Insurance Authority to give a talk on their activities and how they benefit an average business owner in carrying out his or her trade.
The Vote of Thanks was given by Chief Uju Udeme, who commended ASACCIMA for taking the initiative of the Asaba International Trade Fair in the right direction.
He said that the business community cannot do without a Trade Fair and Exhibition that brings them to limelight in the sense that such platforms help to galvanise local businesses to expand in an international meeting point.
Udeme also commended the guests and the Exhibitors for seeing ahead with the opportunity of trade exhibitions.
At the end of the ceremony, members of the hightable toured the various stands of the Exhibitors where the Exhibitors had the privilege of speaking about their products or inventions as applicable to their businesses.
356
previous post