LCCI to secure permanent site for trade fair to check costs

The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has stated that it is close to organising its yearly Lagos International Trade Fair on its permanent site.

Indeed, the Organised Private Sector (OPS) stated that it costs the chamber so much to organise the yearly trade exhibition at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), saying that structures built with lots of money for the 10 days event are eventually taken down which the chamber described as “bad business”.

The Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Gabriel Idahosa, at a press conference to announce the 2021 Lagos International Trade Fair, said the Chamber is working very hard to secure a permanent site for its yearly trade show.

“We are very close to achieving that. Two weeks ago, we had some very critical meetings in getting that permanent site. For us at the Chamber, it cost us a lot of money to bring down the huge investment we put together in organising the ten days event. It is bad business.

“It cost us a lot of money to bring ten 500kva generators to power the TBS. Our competitors around the world organise trade fairs of this size on a plug and play basis.

“We are working hard on this and we certainly do not want to make an announcement until it is all done, but I will tell you that we are closer to it than where we were last year.”

On the Nigeria, Ghana trade war, he said discussions are ongoing with the Consul General of Ghana in Nigeria, noting that the Nigerian High Commission, government officials and the two unions, including the Ghana traders union, and Nigerian Traders in Ghana, have held seven meetings in Accra to resolve the trade disputes.

“According to the latest report, the government of Ghana has told the two unions to maintain peace while doing business as the search for solutions is ongoing by the two countries,” he stated.

He pointed out that the 2021 trade Fair scheduled to hold from Friday, 5th to Sunday, 14th November 2021at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos themed “Connecting Businesses, Creating Value” is expected to attract over 200,000 visitors over the ten-day period.

“Exhibition space of about 28,000 square metres and the number of exhibitors expected are about 1500 exhibitors from about 16 countries,” he said.

Speaking on the African hall, he said the objective of the hall is to bring exhibitors from all African countries under the same umbrella to showcase their goods, services, arts, crafts, and regulatory services and particularly to promote intra-African trade.

“We believe that Africans must grow trade and investment among themselves to give full activation of the AFCTA. The Lagos International Trade Fair (LITF) platform is a great opportunity to do this. In further pursuit of this objective, we will have the Africa special day at the Fair this year. Investment and trade promotion agencies of some African countries have shown interest in this,” he added.

He assured visitors and exhibitors of a hitch free traffic over the 10 days period, commending the Lagos state government for efforts towards improving the ease of movement around the TBS.

“We are particularly impressed with the current facelift given to the loading bays around the Fair venue. With this, our collaboration with various public-sector organizations in various key areas to improve exhibitors’ and visitors’ experiences will no doubt produce improved results,” he added.

“Adequate security is guaranteed in collaboration with all Federal and State Government agencies. This is in addition to the engagement of a private security consultant to coordinate all security activities,” he noted.