Tina Amanda
As preparations for the 2019 Portharcourt Chamber of Commerce International Trade Fair in South-South region commences, with the theme: Innovative Product and Services for Today Sales and Commerce, Entrepreneurs in the State have been urged to make good use of the opportunity to showcase their innovative products and services.
Chairman Organising Committee for the 2019 Trade Fair, Sir Mike Elechi who stated this while fielding questions from our reporter Tina Amanda, explained that the Trade Fair which will involve international exhibitors, industrialists, manufacturers, bilateral organizations and federal agencies, is an opportunity to showcase some entrepreneurs with new discoveries, exposition of what they have done.
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According to him, Commerce today has greatly grown beyond what it used to be in the past, adding that innovation of products and services is very necessary for any business to add value and keep striving.
“There are people who are doing a lot of new things, people who are actually labouring and adding to the economy of the country in their little way, some people are producing fish feeds, animal feeds and so many other products and services, yet nobody notices them. This trade fair is the time to showcase them, we are not only doing a fair of buying and selling but a fair of handiwork, craft improvement, a showcase of expertise.
“We making this trade fair international does not mean local products will not be exhibited too, there will be lots of new things, such as Innoson motors that are manufacturing products which meet international standard and many others. Everybody is looking for innovation, people want to experience, have a feel or taste of new things for example; Cassava is being used to produce several pastries food, so it is fair for new discoveries”
Sir Elechi stressed that one of the main aims of organising the trade Fair in Rivers State is to change the negative narrative that Portharcourt is not a safe place to do business.
“We have watched the narratives that have been said about Rivers State, people have de-marketed Portharcourt and made it look as if it’s unsafe. We have decided this year to rewrite the narrative that Portharcourt is safe to do business, Portharcourt is not unsafe as Lagos, Abuja or any other cities in Nigeria, the warmest of Rivers people makes us unique”
