More than 100 companies are
participating in the ongoing Asaba Domestic Trade Fair, the chairman,
organising committee, Mr Charles Chima, has said.

Chima said in an interview with
our correspondent  in Asaba that more
than 50 of the firms had arrived while others were  being expected.

The Tide reports that the fair,
which was opened on Tuesday, has “Trade Exhibition, Transformation of the
Nation’s Economy” as its  theme.

Chima said the objective of the
fair was to promote non-oil export and direct attention to issues of
diversification of the Nigerian economy, adding that it would also help to
promote accelerated development of indigenous commerce and industry.

He disclosed  that participants at the fair were drawn from
all sectors of the economy, pointing out
that it would provide opportunity for exhibitors to showcase local
products, technologies and services.

Chima, who said the trade fair
would provide business networking opportunities, called on companies operating
in Delta and neigbhouring states of Anambra, Edo and Enugu to take advantage of
the event to exhibit their products.

The Chairman appealed to
governments at all levels to support the private sector initiatives by
developing infrastructure that would boost manufacturing and small and
medium-scale enterprises.

He also appealed to the Federal
Government to give some tax waivers to importers of machineries, adding that
the  major economies of the world depended
on the organised private sector for survival, and urged Nigeria not to lag in
that respect.

“I, therefore, use this medium to
call on governments at all levels to intensify their efforts in creating
conducive environment for business to thrive in the country and also to promote
public-private partnership,’’ he added.