Stakeholders at the 2019, the 30th edition of the Enugu international trade fair have demanded the upgrading of the Trade fair complex and facilities to the standards found at the Lagos and Kaduna states status. The 2019 Enugu Trade Fair commenced at its permanent site, attracting participation of several foreign exhibitors. The management of the Fair appealed to the federal government to give the complex a facelift so as to elevate it to the ones in Lagos and Kaduna.
Leadership of the Fair, the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), acknowledging a shift on the exhibition dates, explained why the initial time frame announced for the 2019 Fair was adjusted.
The Trade Fair was earlier scheduled for 10 days between April 5th and 15th but extended for two days, thus, closing on April 17, 2019.
President of the ECCIMA, Emeka Udeze, at the opening event, noted that the extension of the duration was caused by the clashing of the Fair with the exhibition at the Kaduna International Trade Fair which ended on Sunday, April 7, 2019.
“May I announce that because of the Kaduna Trade Fair that has been going on and will end on Sunday, we have extended the closing date of the 30th Enugu International Trade Fair by two days; The Fair will now end on April 17, 2019,” declared the ECCIMA President.
Udeze reechoed the demand on the Federal Government to expedite action in elevating the standard of the permanent site of the Fair to the level of Kaduna and Lagos Fairs.
The president emphasized the need to work on the road network within the Complex, the provision of water, as well as other infrastructure, adding that there was need to make the central pavilion attractive and befitting.
The ECCIMA president unveiled that the private sector had to gather independent revenue to develop the Trade Fair Complex to the current standard being used by the public.
“In addition to our improving facilities in the fair ground, we went the extra mile three years ago and tasked ourselves through credit leveraging to asphalt part of the internal roads in the complex for more amenable environment to host our esteemed and highly valued participants and visitors to the fair,” Udeze said.
Participants at the 2019 exhibition include captains of industry from various parts of Nigeria, government officials, among others.