The 17th Abuja International Trade Fair (AITF), scheduled to take place from September 30 to October 9 at the Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) Trade Fair Complex, is expected to host President Muhammadu Buhari, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mohammed Musa Bello, and other dignitaries.
At a media briefing to introduce the next trade show, ACCI President Dr. Al-Mujtaba Abubakar stated that the 17th AITF’s focus would be on exports under the topic “Creating an Export Ready Market Through SMEs Digitization.”
“Digitisation offers a range of opportunities for SMEs to improve performance, spur innovation, enhance productivity and compete on a more even footing with larger firms, reflecting: economies of scale; lower operation and transaction costs; and reduced information asymmetries”, he said.
Abubakar enumerated that aside from promoting businesses, the 17th AITF will also enforce trade and investment opportunities in the country, thus, offering a neutral and open atmosphere for blue-chip companies, trade groups/associations, and government.
“The opening ceremony for this mega business fair would take place on the 4th of October 2022,” he stated.
17th Abuja International Trade Fair
“Already, we have over 150 local exhibitors and 100 international exhibitors that have made bookings for their participation and many are still coming. We enjoin our media friends to circulate the information in their various media organisations for the success of this event”, he added.
Speaking on behalf of the FCT Minister, Mohammed Musa Bello, Agboola Lukman Dabri, Secretary, Economic Planning, Revenue Generation & PPP for FCT Administration, assured of adequate security to ensure the success of the event.
He lamented the exaggerated accounts of insecurity in Abuja and emphasized that security forces and other stakeholders were always working to protect people and property.
“The insecurity challenge is a global thing. In Abuja, I won’t say there are no challenges. There are challenges, but of recent, we have observed exaggerations to some extent, especially on social media. The exaggeration is so much to the extent that old actions were said to be done even of recent.
“So, it’s true we have some challenges. It is all over the world. But by the grace of God, it has been curtailed. There is a lot of improvement. I am a member of the security committee in FCT. I cannot divulge everything to you but I can assure you it has been curtailed as much as possible.
And the trade fair, the President is coming. A lot of people are coming and there will be no exception for it. It will be like the normal day, security will be there I can assure you and there will be cause for alarm,” he stated.
