Arusha — The Sullivan Summit ended yesterday afternoon with President Jakaya Kikwete visiting exhibition grounds where the participants have been expressing frustration over low turn up of visitors especially the Americans.

The President's tour began at Makumbusho section of the show that is mostly occupied by petty traders and small and medium size entrepreneurs (SMEs). The group has cried foul play since day one of the summit claiming to have been sidelined by the organisers of the event.

Many said they were eagerly awaiting for the moment to lodge their concerns and complaints of mistreatment and disregard by the organisers to the head of state. They did not do so yesterday as they got carried away by the joyous mood and simplicity of Mr Kikwete when he visited their stalls.

"At last our players have been heard and cries heeded to with the President coming around and getting to see our items and the potential we have to make quality goods," said Mr Selemani Ali of a Dar es Salaam based youth artists group.

He said although the tour came too late, it has however, helped to highlight their presence and increased the number of people at the show grounds. He said the announcement in the morning that President Kikwete would visit the stands made the area buzz with unprecedented activity that has led to some meaningful sales.

The Sullivan Summit host, who passed its next venue torch to Rwandese President Paul Kagame yesterday, used the tour to reiterate his Government's commitment to support the SMEs sector. He challenged the entrepreneurs to embark on marketing drives and promotion of their products, noting that market aggressiveness would greatly boost their incomes.

"You should explore both local and foreign markets to be able to sell more because that is what business is all about instead of sitting idle and blaming the Government of not helping you," he emphasized.

The President's visit was preceded by a tour of American delegates led by ambassador Andrew Young. The two expeditions were part of today's main programme, which many exhibitors said could have been part of the daily programme.

The Citizen has, however, learnt that it was included on the eleventh hour after the exhibitors complained to the organisers and Government officials and word of their neglect reached Mr Kikwete.

The exhibitors said later that the tour has done little to meet their expectations of brisk business and big commercial deals. They also said that very few foreign delegates visited the exhibition and those who did bought very few items.

"We had expected to meet real buyers and would be partners, but most delegates seem not to have been prepared for that," Lily Fashion managing director Isdora Mwijarubi noted.