Aba International Trade Fair: We will not run deficit budget but budget that will make profit for Abia State and Aba Chamber of Commerce….Chief Nwaka Inem.

Aba International Trade Fair : We will not run a deficit budget but budget that will make profit for Abia and Aba Chamber of Commerce…Chief Nwaka Inem,

….optimistic of meeting up with International
standard .

By: Sam Obinna Ibe
Umuahia.

On Thursday,26th day of September,2024, there was a World Press Conference to unveil the details of the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair held at the Secretariat Complex of the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry,Mines and Agriculture which is situated at No 3 Umuimo Road,off 142 Aba Owerri Road,Aba ,Abia State.

The Chairman,2024 Aba International Trade Fair Planning Committee,Chief Nwaka Inem announced that said Trade Fair would hold from 28th November to 7th December,2024 at Aba Mega Mall.

Presenting his address at the World Press Conference, the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair planning Committee,Chief Nwaka Inem thanked everyone who has shown interest in this year’s Trade Fair through inquiries and other expressions of participation intent.

Chief Nwaka Inem who is the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry said Abia State expectation at the end of this world press conference is that the relevant details of the 20 th edition of the Aba International Trade Fair will made available to interested members of the public, local and international businesses, would-be sponsors and partners, and members of the diplomatic community.

He added that the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair will be significantly different from what was obtained in the previous years for the reason that this year’s event has been structured as a joint undertaking between the Abia State Government and the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, ACCIMA.

To this end,he further pointed out that this is to broaden the scope, reach and impact of the Trade Fair for the Aba business ecosystem, and send a signal to the world that the glory of this great city as a pivotal business destination in Nigeria and across the West African region, is returning.

According to the Chairman,the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair planning committee,Chief Nwaka Inem,” Let me specially thank the State Governor, His Excellency, Governor Alex C. Otti, OFR, for his interest and commitment to supporting this year’s Trade Fair.

‘Let me also thank the President of ACCIMA, Mr Geoffrey Uzoagbara, and the entire leadership of the Chamber for their determination to partner with the State Government to elevate the Aba International Trade Fair beyond what it used to be.”

The Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade Commerce and Industry maintained that our collective expectation is that what we do this year will signal what to expect of the annual event going forward because of a truth, Aba’s time to shine on the global plane has come.

Inem however recalled that on June 21, 2024, the State Governor, Dr Alex C. Otti, OFR, through his Chief of Staff, Pastor Caleb Ajagba, inaugurated a 21 man committee drawn from ACCIMA, and senior officials of the State Government to plan and articulate the programmes of the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair.

The Committee headed by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Trade, Commerce and Industry, Chief Nwaka Inem, quickly went to work, holding series of meetings in Aba and Umuahia, interacting with major stakeholders and liaising consistently with the Governor to update him on the progress of the Committee’s proceedings.

After due considerations which entailed looking at the dates of other important national trade fairs, we are proud to announce that the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair have been scheduled to hold between 28th November to 7th December 2024.

He further revealed that the timing of this year’s event is most auspicious as it has been fixed to set the tone for this year’s Christmas shopping activities and give participants, including business owners and shoppers, ample time to prepare themselves for what promises to be a lifetime experience.

To accommodate the huge crowd projected to participate in this year’s Aba International Trade Fair, the Committee has secured an agreement with all relevant interests to use the Aba Mega Mall as the venue for the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair.

This location is also ideal for those who will be participating from different parts of the country, and members of the international community as it is secured, accessible and spacious.

To give the event a truly international status, invitations were sent out to consultants with experience in Organizing trade fairs across the world to send in their proposals, detailing where they want to support the Committee to organize a first-rate event.

At the end of painstaking evaluation by the Committee, we are glad to announce that two reputable consultants have been selected to work with the Committee to put together a world class trade fair.

They are: Global Fairs and Exhibitions, who will bring their extensive experience and insights in events like this to drive all operational activities related to the Aba International Trade Fair; and Vivamark Communications Ltd.; they will oversee all aspects of the Fair’s marketing and communications protocols.

The Chairman planning committee for Aba International Trade Fair 2024 expressed delight to inform people that the decision to work with these two reputable consultants was arrived at after proper evaluation of dozens of proposals sent in, with focus on time, cost efficiency, and field expertise, adding that a Memorandum of Understanding has been signed with the Consultants.

The Committee will work closely with these Consultants and will give them every necessary support to achieve our grand ambition for this year’s event which as I had mentioned, will be more than just a trade fair but a strategic showpiece to announce Aba’s rising status as an economic powerhouse and major regional business hub, thanks in large part to the commitment of His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, OFR, to restore the city’s infrastructure and build new structures that reflects the importance, and glory of Enyimba City as a great destination for business, leisure and family life.

The Trade Fair will come with symposia, workshops and business meetings for local and international investors.

We shall be periodically interfacing with the press to provide important updates as we work assiduously and collectively with all relevant stakeholders to have a great outing between November 28, and December 7, 2024.

Meanwhile, during the questions and answers session,the Chairman planning committee,Chief Nwaka Inem said that the committee has putting the necessary machinery in motion not to run at a deficit but to run a budget that will make profit for the state government and that of the Aba Chamber of Commerce,the promoter of the trade fair.

According to him,” His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti has warned us not to run at a loss,all over the world,trade fair is a mini business that cannot run at a loss,we cannot run a deficit budget but a budget that will make profit for the state government and that of Aba Chambers of Commerce”

Inem also expressed optimism that the committee is ready to organize the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair that would be able to meet up International standard expected of the committee.

On his part,the President,Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry,Mines and Agriculture,Chief Goeferry Uzoagbara who appreciated the governor Alex Otti for approving the Aba International 2024 trade fair.

He expressed the hope that the aim of the trade fair will be achieved noting that there had been trade fairs in the past but this year’s own is going to be different having added international dimensions into it.

Uzoagbara said that some companies of the world have indicated interest to participate and the 2024 Aba trade fair promises to live up to pre planning expectations while extolling governor Alex Otti led Government through harmonious working relationship with Accima.

In their separate reactions,
the Managing Director of Global Flourish Exhibitions limited, Felix Ekarika and the representative of Vivarmark Communication limited, Marcus Ijioma appreciated the state government for repackaging the trade fair and said that the focus is to attract Direct Foreign Investment (DFI) to the state

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