From TCNEWS
Abia State Government has said that it is in collaboration with Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA), putting in place, strategic initiatives to make the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair, the first of its kind in terms of participation, volume of transactions and interests from various business groups.
The event will commence on the 28th of this November and run till December 7 at the Aba Mega Mall located along the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway, the Deputy Governor of Abia State, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, who oversees the event’s Committee, disclosed this to newsmen in the Government House, Umuahia, while presenting a Progress Report on the Preparations for the International Trade Fair.
He said that the State Government led by Dr Alex Chioma Otti, is intensely committed also to the success of the event and has expectedly thrown the full weight of his Administration to guarantee the smooth execution and delivery of the 10-day event.
He said that the state government has practically taken measures to ensure that there will be no security threats or gaps before, during and after the Aba International Trade.
He said that the State is anticipating the influx of visitors, business people and shoppers to Aba for the Trade Fair.
Emetu, who assured of the State’s commitment to working with ACCIMA and other partners to deliver a first-of-its-kind event remains firm, also disclosed that arrangements are being made to work with the hoteliers and others in the hospitality business to offer special rates to those who will be visiting for the Trade Fair.
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The Text of a World Press Conference to Present a Progress Report on the Preparations for the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair Taking Place at the Government House, Umuahia
Protocols,
- I am very delighted to welcome all of you, distinguished friends and partners, from local and international media organisations. Let me specially thank you for offering to be part of this World Press Conference where we will provide important updates on the extent of our preparations for the forthcoming 2024 Aba International Trade Fair, which as you know, will commence on the 28th of this November and run till December 7 at the Aba Mega Mall located along the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway.
- During the Press Conference in September, it was announced that this year’s Aba Trade Fair will be jointly hosted by the Abia State Government and the Aba Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCIMA) and will be done on an international scale as we look forward to welcoming the global business community to Enyimba City, just in time for the yuletide shopping activities and the expected influx of our people from various parts of the world to the State for the end of the year festivities and reunions. I would like to assure everyone that our commitment to working with ACCIMA and other partners to deliver a first-of-its-kind event remains firm.
- I want to specially thank the Planning Committee headed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry, Chief Nwaka Inem, and other members of the Committee, including the leadership of ACCIMA, and senior officials of the Abia State Government, for the months of hard work and dedication through series of planning, strategizing, engagements with various stakeholder groups, long distance travels and participation at important trade fairs in other parts of the country, with the most recent being the Lagos International Trade Fair last week. I will also like to appreciate the body of partners and consultants working with the Committee in preparation for the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair. I have no iota of doubt that with the efforts and resources that have been so far committed to this Project, the only outcome we can expect is success.
- The Abia State Government led by His Excellency, Dr Alex Chioma Otti, OFR, is intensely committed to the success of the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair and has expectedly thrown the full weight of the Administration to guarantee the smooth execution and delivery of the 10-day event. His Excellency has delegated me to oversee the activities of this Committee and to ensure that there are no gaps or obstacles to the success of the Trade Fair. As you know, this is a Government that abhors half measures. My assignment is to fully support the Committee to organise a Trade Fair that would offer great experiences to every class of participant. As you learnt in September, we are expecting over 10,000 participants from different parts of the country and beyond for the Aba Trade Fair to exhibit their products and innovations, shop for their business and household needs and make important business and social connections.
- Because we understand the importance of this Trade Fair to the Aba business community and our economy as a State, the Government has taken adequate steps to cut down the possibility of failures on any front. Abia as you know has emerged as one of the safest and most secured destinations in the region following the determination of the Dr Alex Otti administration to create a supportive environment for local businesses, visitors and others who interact with the social and economic environment of the State. The Government will go one step further for this Trade Fair by working effectively with all national and local security organisations to keep everyone who will be in Aba for the Trade Fair very safe. Security infrastructure and personnel shall be deployed at the venue of the Trade Fair for round-the-clock surveillance operations so as to guarantee the safety of the participants, their products and other critical infrastructure that will be set up at the venue. The Government has practically taken measures to ensure that there will be no security threats or gaps before, during and after the Trade Fair.
- We are anticipating the influx of visitors, business people and shoppers to Aba for the Trade Fair. We have therefore taken steps to guarantee effective security arrangements for everyone no matter what part of the town they are staying in. The security teams have been effectively mobilised and have since started work in pursuit of our objective for an incidence-free event in Aba this year. Our assurance to everyone who is planning to participate in the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair is that they are coming to one of the safest and most-secured business destinations in the entire country.
- For easy commute to and fro the venue of the Trade Fair over the 10-day period, free shuttle buses shall be stationed at particular times at strategic junctions every morning and evening to safely convey participants to the Trade Fair venue and bring them back to their hotels at the end of each day. This is one of the initiatives to make it easy for visitors to move about in safety and comfort in Aba. The Planning Committee shall also be supporting interested participants to secure decent hotel accommodations. Additionally, arrangements are being made to work with the hoteliers and others in the hospitality business to offer special rates to those who will be visiting for the Trade Fair. There will be more information on this subsequently.
- Beyond the great job that has been done on security, welfare and efforts to tell the story of Aba in a different way to our guests, we have also gone ahead to adequately engage with major business communities and interests in various parts of the country. We have sent out invitations to the Governments of the other 35 States of the Country, including the FCT, more than 50 embassies and high commissions, different chambers of commerce across the federation, more than 300 businesses including manufactures and importers, service providers, oil companies and the body of industrialists here in the State and across the country. We are beginning to get good responses from many of them and our expectation is that in the next one week, scores of others will become very interested.
- The setting up and mapping of the site plan at the Trade Fair ground is expected to commence in the next few days. The Committee is expected to begin the allocation of booths to subscribers on a first come, first served basis. May I use this opportunity to invite local and international businesses hoping to take part in the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair to quickly hurry and pay up as there are limited spaces available.
- The Aba 2024 International Trade Fair will be more than just commerce. Arrangements are in top gear to organise a rich symposium where we shall discuss the restoration of Aba as a historic land of opportunities for all who dare to believe in the validity of their dreams. His Excellency, Governor Alex Otti, OFR, is expected to declare the Conference open on the 28th of November to herald the opening of the Trade Fair. Dignitaries from Nigeria and beyond are expected to be part of this Symposium. We are also looking forward to hearing the story of entrepreneurs who made their way to the top of the enterprise ladder in Aba. It promises to be a rich harvest of ideas and inspiration for beginners. We shall provide more details in our next press event.
- Our biggest support system for big projects like this is the enthusiasm and energy of the Abia public. We shall once again be relying on you to spread word about the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair to all parts of the world because this is our event — it is an Aba-made project that must bear the Aba hallmarks of originality, creativity and out-of-the-box thinking. If you share any connection to Aba, either you grew up here, running your business in the city or have ever been to Aba for business, the Aba 2024 International Trade Fair is your project as its success will depend in large part on how you sell it to the world.
- Let me specially appreciate our media partners for believing in this Project and telling the world about it through their platforms. We are already hearing echoes and sounds of the Trade Fair on various traditional and new media channels. Our expectation is that we shall have many more media platforms joining us to talk about the significance of this Project and why the opportunities are ours to grab and run with.
- Let me as I conclude, assure you that the State Government and ACCIMA is putting in place, strategic initiatives to make the Trade Fair the first of its kind in terms of participation, volume of transactions and interests from various business groups. We shall be relying on the support and cooperation of our friends in the media to host the world in Aba from the 28th of November to the 7th of December. See you then.
Engr. Ikechukwu Lekwachi Emetu
13/11/2024