Rivers State has sent a bold message to investors that the state is open, safe, and strongly back in business.
The resounding declaration came on Thursday, 20th November 2025, when the Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) unveiled the logo for the 18th Port Harcourt International Trade Fair 2025 under the striking new brand “THE MARKET CONFLUENCE.”
The state government threw its full weight behind the event during the official logo unveiling at PHCCIMA Headquarters, marking a sharp departure from previous years when trade fairs were largely private-sector affairs.
Dr. Chinyere Nwoga, PHCCIMA’s first female President and the driving force behind the revival, captured the mood perfectly: “Port Harcourt International Trade Fair is back, and Rivers State is open, safe, and good for business.”
The 11-day spectacle, scheduled for 12–22 December 2025 at the Obi Wali International Conference Centre, will run under the forward-looking theme “Growing Through Innovation and Sustainability: Bridging Markets and Encouraging Disruptions.”
Speaking with measured urgency, Dr. Nwoga emphasised that survival in the contemporary economy demands rapid adoption of technology, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence. “The new world is about tech and disruptions,” she told journalists and members. “To run a successful business today, you must innovate relentlessly, embrace technology, and operate on a global stage.”
The fair aims to attract a diverse constellation of participants: multinational exhibitors, diplomats, federal and state agencies, research institutions, manufacturers, trade associations, professional bodies, and the general public. Beyond B2B networking and investment matchmaking, the event will double as a pre-Christmas shopping festival, with exhibitors offering substantial discounts to families. The 25 trade groups of PHCCIMA – cutting across diverse sectors will also be active, conducting seminars.
A notable innovation this year is the dedicated showcase by Rivers State’s 23 local government areas, each presenting its unique products, agricultural produce, and economic potential. From the emerging blue economy opportunities to cutting-edge innovations in the oil and gas sector—still the heartbeat of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry—the fair promises to spotlight untapped prospects across multiple sectors.
Government presence at the logo unveiling underscored the administration’s renewed commitment. Newly appointed Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Hon. Joe Johnson—himself only recently redeployed from the Information portfolio after the emergency rule—delivered a blunt reassurance: “Rivers State is currently one of the safest states in Nigeria.”
He pledged full logistical and policy backing for the fair, signalling that Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration intends to use the platform to dismantle lingering negative perceptions.
Dr. Chamberlain Peterside, Director-General of the Rivers State Investment Promotion Agency (RSIPA), went further, outlining concrete steps to lure back businesses that fled during the political turbulence.
He cited the continued presence of flagship investors such as Nigeria LNG and Renaissance Group as proof that not all corporate confidence was lost, and promised swift resolution of pending Certificates of Occupancy delayed by the emergency rule.
The private sector’s reaction bordered on pleasant disbelief. Operators who attended both the press conference and the logo unveiling described the government’s enthusiastic involvement as “a refreshing and long-overdue paradigm shift.” Chief Dr. Emi Membere-Otaji, immediate past PHCCIMA president and First National Deputy President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA), welcomed the development but urged the governor to intensify efforts to reverse capital flight.
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The symbolism of the new logo—“THE MARKET CONFLUENCE”—is deliberate. Organisers want the fair to serve as the point where local, national, and international markets converge; where innovation disrupts complacency; and where Rivers State reclaims its historical position as Nigeria’s undisputed oil and investment capital.
With barely three weeks to opening day, sponsorship commitments are pouring in, exhibition spaces are filling fast, and diplomatic missions in Abuja and Lagos have already confirmed participation. Early-bird registrations suggest the 2025 edition could surpass pre-crisis attendance figures.
MD/CEO of Nonii Entertainment, and Founder, Bole Festival, a prominent food festival, Chinonso Iwuh gave a detailed outline of the content and proceedings of the fair.
For a state determined to shed the baggage of recent political upheaval, the revived Port Harcourt International Trade Fair is more than an annual commercial carnival. It is a strategic national and global advertisement: Rivers State has turned the page. The markets are open. The opportunities are real. And the confluence has begun.
