10 countries to participate in Nigeria trade fair

At least 10 countries have confirmed their participation in the 25th Enugu International Trade Fair scheduled to hold in March in southeast Nigeria.

The Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) announced the news at a media briefing on the preparations for the fair in Enugu on Thursday.

The President of ECCIMA Ifeanyi Okoye said the countries will include Malaysia, India, China, Vietnam and the United States.

More than 600 companies based in Nigeria would also participate in the fair, said the president, adding that other African countries had also indicated interest to participate in the fair.

The president said the theme of the fair would be "Increasing Competitiveness of Nigerian Products in the Global Market."

He said the chamber had put in place measures to ensure adequate security, steady power and water supply at the fair and effectively utilize the space for the comfort of exhibitors.

"This fair will be a landmark as we mark the silver jubilee of this great event...We will do our best to ensure that the fair is a huge success for all stakeholders," he said, noting that the agriculture sector will remain a major fulcrum in order to boost agricultural production and commercial farming.

Okoye told reporters that the chamber would consolidate efforts toward enhancing the exhibition of prototypes, innovations and research findings for commercialization.

"We will encourage technological advancement by bringing researchers, business people and industrialists together," he said.

The fair is expected to hold between March 28 and April 7.