ECCIMA Woos SMEs To International Trade Fair

Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo State (2nd-left); Deputy Governor, Prince Ezemadumere (left), Miss Black Africa UK, Miss Sonia Ike (2nd-right) and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Dr Toedore Ekechi, during the visit of the beauty queen to the Government House in Owerri recently. Photo: NAN

The Enugu Chamber of
Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), has promised special packages for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) participating at the forthcoming 25th Enugu International Trade Fair.
The Director General of ECCIMA, Mr Emeka Okereke said this in Enugu lastThursday while speaking with newsmen on preparations for the fair holding between March 28 and April 7.
Okereke said that the chamber had reduced allocation fees for participating SMEs in the fair, adding that it also created a cluster for them.
According to him, this is part of efforts to encourage them to expand their business scope because they are very vital to economic development of the country.
“There will be clusters for them which will be given at a moderate rate.  We will create opportunities for them to interact with foreign and multinational companies as well as government agencies.
“We want to interface with Aba and Nnewi traders and manufacturers to encourage them to add value to their businesses.
“From my interaction with them, they seem to be okay at the level they are but we are trying to tell them that they will be better off, if they try to add more value to their capacity to produce in commercial quantity,’’ he said.
Okereke said that they would do better if they had a good business reorientation through the fair.
The DG said that about 400 corporate firms including 25 foreign companies from 10 countries had indicated interest while 250 had made commitments to participate in the fair.
He expressed regret at the dwindling participation of federal and state governments and their agencies in the fair.
“Trade fairs are not all about buying and selling but avenues of creating awareness and interacting with people on business opportunities and developments,’’ he said.
The DG said that arrangements were on top gear for the hosting of the fair, adding that various committees set up by the chamber were working to ensure its success.
Okereke said that the current fuel scarcity in the country would not affect the fair because the product was available but expensive.
He however expressed dismay at the fuel situation, noting that President Goodluck Jonathan had been able to sustain its availability in the past four years.
The DG urged Nigerians to join the chamber in celebrating the silver jubilee of the Enugu International Trade Fair.