Italian and Kenyan Companies to make more presence
By Yidnekachew Alemayehu
Each year, the Addis Ababa Chamber of Commerce launches a series of four International Trade Fairs. The Fair is believed to take hundreds foreign and local companies on board in a weeklong business event. As it stands now, more than 150 companies have signed up to take part while many more are expected to come.
The event, among others, would serve a venue for business –to-business talks, concluding business partnership between the local private operators and foreign counterparts.
According to Abraham Haile Mariam, Trade and Investment Promotion Director at the Chamber, in this segment of trade fair almost all sectors of business are taking part including food processors , textile and garment manufacturers, engendering, agro processing companies, pharmaceutical and chemical firms.
It was learned countries like Sweden, UAE, China, India, South Africa, Kenya, Egypt and Italy are already confirmed to participate in the fair. Kenyan and Italian companies are likely to take the lead by sending over 20 and 50 companies respectively.
In order to ensure smooth running of the event, arguments with pertinent government authorities have been put in place to avoid possible hassles and delays involving foreign companies to the event, Abraham Added.
As part of promoting young operators, the Chamber has allotted display spots free of charge small and middle interpreters. Addis Chamber’s will also stage other three consecutive international fairs under Tourism and Travel, Agro-processing and Manufacturing in the months to come.
He indicated that the chamber has organized four international trade fairs for 2018 namely the Addis Chamber International Trade Fair (ACTIF), Agriculture and Food International Trade Fair (Agrifex), Tourism and Travel Fair and Manufacturing and Technology International Fair (MATEX).
Addis Chamber International Trade Fair is now regarded as the most popular international promotional event in the country with hundreds of participants from Ethiopia abroad. Abraham further noted that concurrent events like symposiums and business to business meeting would take place along with the trade fair.
The international trade fairs organized by the chamber so far are among the most notable business promotional activities that have added so much value for the business community in terms of promoting their products and services, establishing business linkages with trading partners and sharing experiences and knowhow with international and local companies.