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The President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Odeiga Jideonwo, has said that the present economic situation of Nigeria calls for concerted efforts towards diversifying her economy.
Jideonwo who said the current economic challenges in the country was as a result of the dwindling revenue from the country’s mono foreign exchange earner, oil, stressed the need to promote made in Nigeria products in the Global market.
The ECCIMA President who was addressing newsmen on the 35th Enugu International Trade Fair scheduled to hold from Friday, April 5 to Monday, April 15, stated that such promotion which would “attract foreign interest, increase export of none oil products and then offset our foreign exchange deficit,” cannot be over emphasized.
He also said that “Local production and promotion of our locally made goods is the most important song to be signing now, until we restore the glory/value of Naira as well as our national economy.”
Noting that the Chamber was concerned with the issue of deepening Nigeria’s democracy, he stressed that it was “only with a thriving economy and free enterprise that our
democracy would be well sustained.”
On the 35th Enugu International Trade Fair, Jideonwo who was flanged by Executive Committee and Council member of the Chamber including First Deputy President, Nnanyelugo Onyemelukwe, expressed optimism that it would be an exciting and result oriented “10 day beneficial business concourse.”
The fair which would hold at the Permanent Trade Fair Complex, off the Enugu-Onitsha Expressway, has it’s theme as “Promoting Made in Nigeria Products for Global Competitiveness.”
He disclosed that the Fair was expected to be declared open by the Hon Minister for Industry, Trade & Investment, on behalf of President Bola Tinubu.
“It is my pleasure to inform you that a good number of corporate bodies/business organizations as well as government agencies have made very serious indication and
commitments to participate in this Fair. Relatedly, the level of enquiries and interest being made from prospective participants is quite reassuring,” he added.
He said this year’s fair would be toll-free adding, “We are confident that the 35th Enugu International Trade Fair would be a success especially when compared with the past 4 editions, as the following indices and factors portrays.
“The Fair has been strategically re-engineered in such a way that it will have meaningful and positive effects and outcome for all stakeholders, particularly for exhibitors and
participants.
“Part of the value addition and enhancement to this Fair is the partnership deal we are striking with the Enugu State Government to make available about 1000sqm Marquee
Air-conditioned Tent to provide space for participation of all SMEs in Enugu State. By this the ingenuity and new ideas in the state would be brought to bear for commercialization. This will increase the number of Air-conditioned Marquee-Tent at the Fair to two. One housing corporate and international exhibitors while this one provided by the State will house SMEs from Enugu State.
“Efforts are being consolidated towards bringing back to Enugu International Trade Fair, a number of big companies that stopped participating in our Fairs due to poor exhibition infrastructure at the complex. These companies have decided to join ECCIMA in its move to use PPP arrangement in developing the Enugu International Trade fair. Most of them have also indicated interest in having permanent space where they can develop their permanent exhibition stand/halls.”
Source: The Sun Newspaper