ECCIMA decries neglect of Enugu trade fair complex
NAN-HE-13
Neglect
By Emmanuel Acha
Enugu, Oct. 24, 2016 (NAN) The Director-General of Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Mr Emeka Okereke, says the continued neglect of the trade fair ground in Enugu has become more worrisome.
He said on Monday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Enugu, that the chamber was at a loss that efforts to get the Federal Government develop the site had failed.
ECCIMA is the organiser of the annual Enugu International Trade Fair.
He said that the chamber had done its best to upgrade infrastructure on the site, but needed the Federal Government to play its part as it did in Lagos and Kaduna states.
“Development of the trade fair complex at the Golf Course started in 2,000 but if you go there it is in a sorry state in terms of the negligence the place has suffered.
“We have variously appealed to the Federal Government to upgrade the facilities just as they have done in Kaduna and Lagos.
“If your infrastructure is not upgraded to that international standard, it won’t be easy to market participation at trade fairs,” he said.
Okereke said that the deterioration of the site had been the greatest challenge the chamber had faced in terms of organising fairs, adding that the development was affecting economic activities in the zone.
According to him, in spite of obvious challenges, the chamber has done its best to get exhibitors and foreign firms keep fate with the annual exhibition.
He said ECCIMA was hopeful that the economy would be on the path of recovery if serious palliative steps were urgently taken to salvage the situation.
“We have started our marketing of the 2017 edition of the trade fair and have reached out to foreign embassies, international organisations and indigenous manufacturers and service providers,” he said.
He said that the chamber was not deterred by the current economic recession and had continued to support local production for export purposes.
“We are looking forward that things will get better and hoping the 2017 trade fair will be a huge success.
“It has been tight for everybody, including manufacturers and business people, but it should also be an opportunity for us to be innovative and not be frustrated out of business,” he said.
The 2017 trade fair would provide opportunities for participants to learn and build a sustainable socio-economic future.
ECCIMA was established in 1963 to promote and protect commerce and industry, and to represent and express the opinion of the business community on questions affecting commerce, industry, mines and agriculture firstly in Enugu, the then Eastern Nigeria (its main catchments area), and where applicable, the whole federation.
(NAN)
EOA/MA/IA
Edited by Maureen Atuonwu/Idris Abdulrahman