With less than a month into the opening the annual Rwanda International Trade Fair (RITF), 90 percent of the space accorded to exhibitors has been booked, the Private Sector Federation (PSF) has said. Jean de dieu Hakizimana, the expo coordinator, said that out of a total 500 invitations they sent to local exhibitors, 90 percent have confirmed participation and booked space while 70 percent of international participants have booked. “This year’s participation will be higher than last year as the number of foreign countries that have confirmed participation is more and the mobilization campaign has been intensified,” said Hakizimana. The exhibition that will start from August 26 to September 6, 2010 seeks to attract 200 foreign exhibitors compared to 117 that attended last year and increase countries represented in 2009 from 11 to 25 this year. The exhibiting sectors will include manufacturing, service, art and craft, agribusiness fruits and beverage as well as entertainment among others. Hakizimana also said that the exhibition will give local companies a unique platform for sales opportunity and networking forum for the business community and other participants that will be attending the event. Exhibition space will cost $100 and $1350 per square meter and 9 square meters respectively for foreign exhibitors while the local companies will have to pay Rwf40, 500 per square meter and Rwf450, 000 per 9 square meters. Part of the mobilization campaign was through Rwandan embassies abroad and foreign embassies based in Rwanda helped mobilized exhibitors from their countries. Ends
