RUNDU – There is a significant increase in the number of exhibitors attending this year’s annual Kavango Trade Fair compared to last year’s turn out. According to the chairperson of the Kavango Trade Fair, Nimrod Muremi, this year’s fair attracted 180 exhibitors compared to 120 exhibitors, who participated in 2012. In addition to local exhibitors, there were exhibitors from Tanzania, Botswana, Angola and Zimbabwe. The trade fair takes place under the theme – “Unlocking Trade Potential in the Region” and is taking place at the Old Saw Mill in the industrial area of the fast growing town.
Officiating at the opening ceremony this week, Minister of Gender Equality and Child Welfare, Rosalia Nghidinwa, said the presence of foreign exhibitors is a sign of trade promotion between the participating countries. “The trade fair is very important in the sense that it brings all the SME’s in the two Kavango regions and Namibia at large together to share ideas that will lead to the creation and development of new enterprises, job opportunities and poverty alleviation in our communities,” said Nghidinwa. She also urged exhibitors to stop selling alcohol and rather focus on selling traditional food to promote health habits among citizens. “This is important because alcohol is the main contributing factor to gender-based violence, malnutrition, laziness and unhealthy relations among families and it destroys the quality of life in our country,” she said.
She also lauded the management of the trade fair for including an agricultural section, showcasing various livestock breeds at this years’ trade fair. “We Namibians should aspire to showcase our farming products and to be farmers due to the favourable weather conditions we have in this country. Farming in this country is a traditional business and we should be proud of it,” she said. She further said government is deliberately providing support services such as financial assistance and advisory services to enable Namibian entrepreneurs to exhibit and sell their products at home and in foreign markets. “The provision of these services is helping a lot of local businesses get off the ground, but as a nation we need to do more to help them improve the quality of their products and the operations of their businesses.” She urged communities in the Kavango East and West regions to team up with potential investors to form joint ventures to explore other investment opportunities in the economy.
By Mathias Haufiku