15 August 2007
Lagos — The on-going first-ever Nigeria-Benin Common Market Trade Fair is meant to fast-track trade and the desired economic integration in the West African sub region, the first Deputy President, Ogun State Council of Chambers of Commerce, Alhaji Tunji Labode, has said.
Labode said, Monday, in Cotonou, Republic of Benin, venue of the fair, that the organisers also infused culture into the fair to promote the rich African culture. It was gathered that the Common Market Trade Fair is a fall-out of the first economic summit held early this year in Cotonou between the governments of Nigeria and Benin.
The 10-day fair, which is being organised by PANAFRICA-Benin, in collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) is aimed at providing a platform of interaction for people in business to meet and discuss on future businesses.
On the low turnout of participants at the fair, Labode attributed this to inadequate publicity, but expressed optimism that more individuals and organisations would join as the fair progresses
Eleven exhibitors, mostly from Nigeria, Mali and the Republic of Benin, have, so far, mounted pavillons at the Palais des Congres, venue of the fair.
The exhibitors are mostly into textile materials, such as batik and tie and dye, food and traditional medicine. A local spice vendor at the fair, Madame Djossnou Aubierge, from Republic of Benin, said that she was participating at the fair to promote her spices.
Djossnou said that the spices, which include melon, dry pepper, ginger and garlic, were prepared under the most hygienic condition and with the best technology to preserve them. She said that her products were already being marketed in Senegal, France, Ghana and Cote d'Ivoire, but were yet to enter the Nigerian market. She explained that the plan to break into Nigeria necessitated her participation at the fair, which will end on August 20.
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