The 7th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair which marked the 22nd edition of the fair is intended to increase awareness of both local and foreign investors for the abundant human and natural resources that are available in the country and Rivers State in particular.

In addition it is expected to afford about 400 exhibitors targeted by the fair another opportunity to showcase their business and services to the open market, as well as open a new vista for potential business contacts and investment opportunities with based companies.

Going down the memory lane, the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA), the organisers of the on going 7th Port Harcourt International Trade fair at the Isaac Boro Park, Port Harcourt, was established in 1957 (54 years ago) with the objective of articulating business interests in the state, Niger Delta region, Nigeria and beyond.

Presently PHCCIMA holds its pride of place as the second largest and active chamber of commerce in Nigeria, coming second only to the Lagos Chamber of Commerce. Efficient and effectively developed, overflowing with seasoned and proven professionals in every facet of endeavour, PHCCIMA is still growing with a mission of building and protecting businesses and developing people through the sharing of relevant knowledge and information that has helped to stimulate the economy.

In spite of the remarkable strides it has made in business mentoring, the chamber also acts on behalf of businesses in the city and beyond to foster economic development.

With the theme of this years trade fair, “Advancing New Prospects for SME Growth and Economic Development in Rivers State”, the PHCCIMA president, Engr. Vincent Furo (KSM) noted that the business opportunities provided by the 7th Port Harcourt International trade fair would help stimulate the economy of the state considering what it offers to international national and local participants who were being presented with opportunities to buy and showcase their goods and services.

He disclosed that the about 400 exhibitors at the fair represents a 30 percent increase over the last years fair and are featuring reputable international, national and local exhibitors, including the 23 local government areas of Rivers State, who he said were being given opportunities to present their agricultural and industrial potentials to the general public.

Engr. Furo, posited that this year fair is modeled  differently and with the collaboration of Mace Events Management Limited, a renowned event management company, it was being marked with big improvement from what was attainable in the past, as this is geared towards local content in management and services.

To make the fair more secure and successful the chamber is partnering with all relevant security institutions, including the media, government agencies, NDDC, RSSDA, Greater Port Harcourt City Development Authority, and various multinational organisations.

The Fair is evidenced with enormous business opportunities that will deliver value to all stakeholders including business and health workshops, textile, fashion, and beauty shows, music by prominent artists, comedy and funfair for all, with entertainment village set to thrill participants.

There is provision for children with the introduction of “The Extra-ordinary Child Project (TEP) in partnership with Miss Blossom Beauty Services for kids aged 5-11 years.

The 7th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair which has its major sponsor as Total E & P Nigeria Limited, is not left out of some challenges. Some of the challenges emanates from some participants who complained bitterly on the high charges on the allocation of stalls.

Mrs Warigbani George who intended to participate in the fair, said, she was discouraged when she was asked to pay as much as N50,000 for a space of one small canopy, a price – she can not afford to dare, she lamented.

Mr Innocent Nwammo who deals with shoes said similar complaint of high price on stalls allocation, even though he did not disclose the amount he paid. He expressed fears that he may not break even as the fair progresses.

Similarly, the Marketing Officer of Gildo Nigeria Limited, John Ade, lamented what he described as incessant and unjustified harassment and extortion through multiple task forces on the road, including the police. He said that considering the fact that majority of the participants at the fair were coming from different parts of the country, arrangement could have been made to address the issue before now.

Ade pointed out that part of the reason why prices are not down as expected is the multiple indirect taxation experienced on the road and called for urgent intervention of the authorities concerned.

Another participant who deals with electronic appliances, Jude Eberue said that another challenge facing the fair is irregular power supply, which he said was part of the assurance given to them, that there would be provision of standby generator to cushion the shortcoming at the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (RHCN) power supply, stressing that this promise has not been fulfilled.

However, the PHCCIMA Trade Fair Organising Committee Chairman, Engr Emeka Unachukwu, debunked the allegation by some participants who alleged that the stalls were allocated at exhorbitant prices, describing them as late comers who did not pay for allocation directly from the committee rather chose to buy space from those who bought from the committee and are reselling their allocations at higher prices.

Unachukwu who is also the Ist Deputy President PHCCIMA, maintained that the space allocation was relatively cheap with a view to attracting more participants in this year’s fair. He also said that the chamber and all security institutions and relevant agencies were in collaboration to ensure a hitch free fair and wondered why such complaint of task force harassment should still exist, assuring to probe into the matter.

Meanwhile consumers patronising the trade fair expressed satisfaction with the current prices of items at the fair, saying that it create opportunity for a wider consumer choice.

Expressing her views, Mrs Ibinabo Opuwari a civil servant, lamented that she cannot make enough purchases as salaries have not been paid to civil servant saying that she was doing more of window shopping than buying due to lack of finances.

Mr Ndamati Ihunwo said, “to me the Trade Fair is a huge success, look at the caliber of the exhibitors with sophisticated products and relatively cheap prices. I bought Startime Decorder N5,900 as against N7,000 outside. There are quite a lot of varieties to make choice from at this Xmas period.

The 7th Port Harcourt Trade Fair according to the representative of Lifemate Furniture Company, is one of the best organised compare to the past ones; He commended the organisers for proper co-ordination and logistics, wishing that the tempo is maintained next year.

In conclusion, now that there is a synergy between the chamber and all the security institutions it behoves on them to check the nefarious activities of touts and criminals outside the gate of the fair venue, illegal market or a mini fair going on outside the gate and intimidation of prospective customers who would have paid a gate fee, also affect the purchasing strength at the fair.

The organisers should also address the issue of multiple agencies and task forces harassing and extorting money from the participants coming to promote and boost the economy of the state as this will encourage more investors to participate in the subsequent fairs.