Preliminary work has commenced at the proposed permanent trade fair complex in Anambra State.

Making the disclosure in Awka on Thursday, the Commissioner for Trade and Commerce, Dr. Christian Madubuko, said the aim of the construction of a permanent site was to broaden business activities in the state.

The commissioner, who spoke through his permanent secretary, Mr. Daniel Okoli, during the unveiling of the prospectus for the 2018 Anambra Trade Fair, explained that this year’s trade fair, which is proposed for Onitsha in November, is organised by Awka, Nnewi and Onitsha Chambers of Commerce.

In his speech, the chairman of the organising committee of the fair, Mr. Chris Ukachukwu, hailed the state government for providing an enabling environment for the success of trade fairs.

He said that the 2018 fair would be an opener to consolidating on the gains of the previous ones organised by the three chambers, adding that the joint chambers in the three cities in Anambra State were already partnering with foreign trade missions, embassies, and multinational companies to participate in the 2018 fair.

Ukachukwu said: “We seek to present a very strong platform for global and local businesses to exhibit their products and services to a global market, thereby presenting a huge opportunity for business visibility and international patronage.”

On her part, the Commissioner for Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Sally Mbanefo, described trade as key to development.

While assuring that her ministry would attract Igbo in Diaspora to participate at the fair, she observed that trade fairs are big deals, even as she stressed that digitisation should not be undermined.

She added: “Digitisation is the way to go. It is, therefore, necessary that we take our trade activities beyond the shores of Nigeria and our state is particularly lucky to have a governor who is desirous to move the state to the next level.”

Mbanefo called on the organisers of the trade fair to liaise with the Director of Diaspora Affairs in her ministry for adequate information on how to make Igbo in Diaspora part of the forthcoming trade fair.

Chairman of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, MAN, for Anambra, Ebonyi and Enugu states, Chief Azubuike Okafor, appealed to the organisers to make the cost of the stands competitive, saying that more industrialists and manufacturers would be willing to participate, if the cost of the stands was affordable.

He expressed hope that this year’s fair would achieve good results as was recorded at previous fairs.