The Benin Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (BENCCIMA) has affirmed that the Edo State 2026 Trade Fair would connect local farmers and producers to the global market.

The Director of the 2026 Trade Fair, Dr Jonathan Oboite, disclosed this in Benin at the weekend during the pre-launch dinner of the forthcoming trade fair scheduled for November and December 2026.

Oboite, who doubles as the Second Deputy President of BENCCIMA, said the forthcoming trade fair was initiated to bridge the existing gap between local farmers and producers and the global market.

The director noted that although Edo had organised trade fairs for a long time, the forthcoming trade fair will require collaboration to succeed.

He said: “Lacuna that exists between raw materials and finished products, and exporting products from our farmers has existed for so long. So, the Chamber has decided to step up and take that responsibility to ensure that products from local farmers and producers get abroad if necessary. We want to help them. We want to educate them, give them orientation, and make life better for everyone. An economically safe society is a better society.”

Earlier in his welcome address, the President of BENCCIMA, Omoregie Godwin, said the trade fair would be a platform for market expansion, investment attraction, product innovation and technology transfer, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) development, job creation and export promotion.

“The Edo State Trade Fair 2026 will showcase indigenous industries and local content, promote agro-processing, solid minerals, light manufacturing, and digital innovation, provide SMEs with visibility and structured business exposure, facilitate Business to Business (B2B) and Business to Government (B2G) engagements, attract investors into priority sectors, stimulate tourism and hospitality activities, generate direct and indirect employment.”