WINDHOEK- The fourth Katutura Expo 2014 has been lauded as a resounding success by the event organisers.
Expo spokesperson, Abrosius Kandjii, told New Era on Saturday that the expo attracted more than 16 000 visitors compared to last year’s 11 000.
“This year we had 78 exhibitors compared to last year’s 48 exhibitors,” he said.
The aim of the expo is to serve as a platform for businesses in the country to promote their services. The expo showcases the products of local, regional establishments and also features crafts exhibitions, small and large livestock, food, beverages and host of other fun activities.
Kandjii said the expo has been growing year after year since its inception four years ago.
Kandjii also uses the opportunity to thank companies such Telecom Namibia, Agri-bank, City Windhoek, Kondjeni Architect, BFS and Namsov fishing.
The three-day expo, which ended Saturday at the Independence Arena in Windhoek, saw more than 78 local companies exhibiting their products to more than 10 000 buyers some even from overseas countries.
“The response from local buyers have been really positive. They have really been pleased with the standards and quality of the goods,” Kandjii said. The exhibitors, he said, were really pleased to have been included in this year’s staging of the event.
“This is the biggest and the best expo so far. Our target for next year is to have more than 20 000 visitors” Kandjii said. Similiar sentiments were also expressed by Gabriel Mbapaha who declared the event the most successful based on the number of exhibitors, buyers and patrons.
A positive outcome of the event, he said, was that Namibians have recognised the need to start moving the manufacturing sector forward.
“Namibian people have realised that something needs to be done about the productive sector and you can see from the support,” Mbapaha said.
“We have had very good support from the companies on display because even though things are very hard for them, they went way out in terms of getting really nice booths, getting nice products and new products and really how they marketed their businesses as they realise we have got to do something about our business,” Mbapaha said.
Ngurimuje Tjirimuje said he was really impressed with the products and the presentation and also the fact that several companies launched new products.
By Kuzeeko Tjitemisa