The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has projected the participation of about one million visitors, 300 Chinese businesses alongside 15 other countries at the 2024 Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF).
Prince Abimbola Olashore, Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, LCCI, made this known at a news conference on Wednesday in Lagos to detail activities of the 38th edition of the LITF.
He was represented by Mr Akinbo Akin-Olugbade, Member, Trade Promotion Board, LCCI.
Olashore noted that the annual fair, scheduled from Nov. 1 to Nov. 10, at the Tafawa Balewa Square, averagely recorded 350,000 visitors during the ten-day period.
He, however, revealed that because its exhibitors had surpassed a certain figure this year by expression of interest, the LCCI was looking towards receiving 1,000,000 visitors at the fair.
Olashore said the 2024 LITF would have multiple specialised fairs such as children’s corner, technology hub and Africa hall among others within the fair.
“The Africa Hall is one of the Chamber’s instruments aimed at boosting intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA).
“At this year’s Fair, LCCI will be promoting the 4th Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2025) which is holding from Sept. 4, 2025 to Sept. 10, 2025 in Algiers, Algeria.
“Meanwhile, we can confirm that almost all 54 African countries have been invited and so far, we have confirmed exhibitors from Ghana, Rwanda, Cameroon, Benin Republic, the Gambia, and Tanzania,” he said.
Olashore added that while the 2023 LITF had about 200 Chinese exhibitors, the 2024 edition would be hosting more than 300 businesses from China and 100 from Japan.
He said it would host four different trade exhibitions from Nov. 5 to Nov. 7, 2024 including International Automotive Parts, Equipment and Service Fairs (2024 Auto Equip), West Africa Hardware, Tools and Mechatronics Fair (2024 WAM).
Others, the chairman said, are Nigeria International Textile Industry (2024 Nigeria Tex) and International Houseware and Gift Fair (Home Show Nigeria).
“We use this opportunity to invite Nigerian businesses and entrepreneurs to come to the Fair to meet with these Chinese exhibitors and seal commercial agreements and distributorship deals.
“There will be free entry for the 10 days of the Fair for all our exhibitors and visitors.
“We will, however, be deploying our state-of-the-art security architecture, both private and public, to manage the process.
“We are encouraging visitors to take advantage of this opportunity to do their end-of-the-year and Christmas shopping.
“We also believe that more potential exhibitors and sponsors will come on board to network and sell,” he said.
NAN