Foreign companies from across West Africa have indicated interest in participating at this year’s Gateway International Trade Fair billed to take place between April 19 and April 29.
Also, stakeholders in the food, beverages, health, agriculture and other manufacturing sectors, banks, as well as players in small and medium scale businesses have also indicated their interest in booking pavilions and spaces at the Trade Fair Complex.
According to the organisers, companies like Leadway Assurance, Lafarge, International Breweries, Apples and Pears, Rite foods, Industrial Platform, Remo (Arise), GB foods, Bank of Industry (BOI), Gateway Mortgage Bank, Providus Bank, First Bank, Sterling Bank, Lotus Bank and several regulatory agencies, such as NAFDAC were expected at the exhibition.
The theme for this year’s event is “Achieving Economic Prosperity Through Business Connection, Trade and Investment.”
The Ogun State government had assured of adequate security of lives and property during the event, while other logistics had been put in place to make the trade fair a world-class event.
President of the Ogun State Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OGUNCCIMA), Engr. Mike Akingbade, while speaking on preparations so far, said his organisation had been working in tandem with the state government to ensure a hitch-free exercise.
He promised that the new innovations being introduced this year were geared towards ensuring that more participants attended the showpiece.
Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Industry, Oluyemisi Somorin-Dawodu, had earlier said that this year’s trade fair would be more than just the exhibition of products, adding that other economic and trade-related activities had been lined up to make the experience more worthwhile for participants.
According to her, new innovations such as a raffle draw with the grand prize of a 2-bedroom bungalow and an entertainment village were expected to add glamour to the event.