After a week of giving local economic activities a boost, attracting potential investors and providing locals with an opportunity to showcase their businesses, the Opuwo Annual Trade Fair will come to a close tomorrow.
One of the organisers, McSean Makono, told New Era the annual event, which is in its 11th year, also fosters networking among businesses and stakeholders, and helps facilitate the exchange of ideas for trade and investment.
“The event has attracted approximately 10 000 visitors since it started, with expectations of a higher turnout over the closing weekend. The influx of visitors is anticipated to increase due to scheduled performances by artists and the timing coinciding with month-end, which typically sees more people travelling to the town,” said Makono.
The Opuwo Annual Trade Fair started on 20 May, and will end tomorrow, 1 June.
Makono said the overall mission of the fair is to stimulate local economic development, promote investment opportunities, and enhance the visibility of local businesses.
“A total of 134 exhibitors participated at this year’s fair, and this includes participants from countries such as Tanzania, Kenya and Angola, highlighting the fair’s growing international appeal,” he said.
He said hosting such a significant event comes with its own challenges such as logistical issues, ensuring adequate infrastructure to support the influx of visitors and exhibitors, and maintaining security and safety throughout the event.
“Additionally, organizers continuously innovate to keep the fair relevant and attractive to participants and patrons. Hence, we had quite a lot of activities such as information-sharing from various companies and the home affairs ministry issued birth certificates and ID cards on the spot,” he added.
Makono said the trade fair plays a crucial role in the economic and social fabric of the region by providing a platform for businesses to thrive, and also contributes to job-creation and income-generation for the local population.
“The fair also enhances cultural exchanges and understanding, as it brings together people from different backgrounds and regions. Furthermore, it promotes the adoption of new technologies and business practices, which can lead to long-term economic resilience and growth,” he said.
The spokesperson of the Okakarara Vocational Training Centre, Evaristo Kavikairiua told New Era the Opuwo Annual Trade Fair plays a vital role in bringing services closer to the end-users.
“OVTC enjoyed reaching out to the residents of Kunene region in Opuwo, and receiving applications on site.
Not only have we reached out to prospective trainees, but we also came to educate pupils on various careers within the TVET sector. This will assist them with clearer options to choose from,” he said.
Kavikairiua added that the trade fair is an opportunity for all sectors to come together and make an impact on the lives of the residents in the region.
“Our tagline ‘Knowledge is power’ has proved to be relevant to many people during this week,” he said.
-psiririka@nepc.com.na