Mixed reactions trail Kaduna Int’l Trade Fair
Exhibitors at the just concluded 43rd edition of the Kaduna International Trade Fair on Sunday described the trade fair as a “huge success.”
The exhibitors made the commendation in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna during the closing ceremony of the event.
They, however, advised the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), organisers of the event, to henceforth, do more on publicity.
One of them, Mr Jibirn Abubakar, Trade Fair Manager and Coordinator, Dangote Group, commended KADCCIMA for organising the event, which he described as “very successful”.
Abubakar pointed out that despite COVID-19, insecurity and economic downturn, KADCCIMA was still able to organise the event.
According to him, the trade fair offered Dangote Group and other companies, the opportunity to showcase their products and deepen market penetration.
“It offered us opportunity to deepen our sales, meet new partners in the form of investors and distributors, as well as offer us the opportunity to listen to our customers and get feedback.
“The feedback is very critical for us because we will use it to improve our services and meet the yearnings and aspirations of our consumers, distributors and investors.
“However, there is room for improvement, particularly in the area of publicity,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Mubarak Labaran, Distributor, FARSMAN Holding Ltd., also expressed satisfaction with the turnout of sales.
Labaran said that initially, sales were very slow because of the low turnout of people, but it later picked up.
“We were able to connect with more people who declared interest in our products, and I am very optimistic that this new connection will open up more business opportunities for the company,” he said.
Also, Ms Dorothy Ojo, a first-time exhibitor at the fair, said that the experience was great, and that she got a little patronage, but not as much as she expected.
“I am a regular visitor to the famous Kaduna International Trade Fair. In fact, the huge crowd that used to characterise the event encouraged me to exhibit my products this year.
“I sell manual blenders of all kinds for fruits and vegetables, manual slicers, juice extractors and different other products, but unfortunately, there was low turnout of people due to several factors, particularly insecurity,” she lamented.
She advised KADCCIMA to engage in massive publicity, months before the event, to maintain the high influx of people the annual event was known for.
Mr Christian Mberedeogu, Regional Distributor, Longton High Tech. Ltd, also a first-time exhibitor, said that although the turnout of people was low, it was a wonderful experience for him.
