Mr Jasper Nduagwuike, President, Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, says four countries will be attending the 33rd Enugu International Trade Fair holding March 25, in Enugu.
Nduagwuike disclosed this while speaking with the newsmen on Thursday in Enugu.
He said countries like the Republic of Namibia, Chinese, Pakistan and Ghana would attend the fair.
According to him, this is the first time people from the Republic of Namibia will be coming for the fair while the Chinese, Pakistan and Ghana will be represented.
“This is also the first time in many years we have people who are sponsoring the trade fair.
Dangote and Nigeria Breweries are sponsoring the fair and they are doing a lot of work at the site. Both will brand the place and people can come at night to relax,” he said.
The president also said that the officials of the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) and Enugu Electricity Distribution Company (EEDC) would attend to people’s needs.
“We are starting the fair on March 25 at the permanent site and a lot is going on there as so many people have begun to construct their stands.
“So far, what we have seen has outreached what it used to be and we believe that people are going to gain value for their money and time.
Nduagwuike said the organizers of the trade fair planned within a very short period but assured that the next fair would be better planned as they had a whole full year to plan for it, saying, “It is going to be truly international”.
He said that though, “We are starting March 25, the opening ceremony will be on March 29.
“We noticed in the past that while the opening ceremony will be going on, some people will be constructing their stands which may generate noise.
So we decided to bring in people first while the formal opening of the fair will come later,” he said
He said that the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr Boss Mustapha, was expected to declare the fair open while the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Chief Adeniyi Adebayo and Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, would be in attendance.
On security, Nduagwuike said that the chamber was in collaboration with the security agencies to ensure a peaceful trade fair.
Newsmen also report that the trade fair will begin on March 25 and end in April 4.