2008 Expo: 20,000 expected

Organisers of the 11th Annual Rwanda International Trade Fair hope to attract more than 20,000 visitors per day to Gikondo grounds, exceeding last year’s numbers. Mary Wambua, the Trade Fair’s Events Manager, said a comprehensive visitor mobilisation campaign has started targeting both local people and the international community. The trade fair, Expo 2008, “aims to promote trade and investment not only in Rwanda but also in the entire region,” the official website states. “The expo will be a forum for creating synergy of resources, technologies and products for the country, the sub regional and regional communities.” Expo 2008 takes place from Aug. 28 to Sept. 8 and has already attracted 501 exhibitors, Wambua confirmed, adding that registration is still continuing. Some of the exhibitors will be promoting products from the manufacturing, engineering, rubber, telecommunications, agricultural, textiles, culture and tourism and food and beverage industries. The foreign exhibitors include businesses from Burundi, Uganda, Egypt Norway, Kenya, Tanzania, South Africa, India, Ghana and Belgium. Wambua said there are a total of 381 local exhibitors and 120 foreign ones. “There will be a tent dubbed ‘meet the partner tent’ in which companies will have a chance to hold an informative session with their potential clients and give a detailed presentation of what their company does,” said Wambua. She added that the tent will have a capacity of 20 to 25 people and is free for the exhibitors and audience. All exposition exhibitors will also enjoy free wireless internet access throughout the exhibition period so as to make presentations in their individual stands as well. The Private Sector Exposition Secretariat has at the present managed to secure five sponsors which include MTN Rwanda, Rwanda Commercial Bank (BCR), Electrogaz, Rwanda Breweries and Soft drink Manufacturers (Bralirwa) and Rwandatel. Ends

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2008 Expo: 20,000 expected