Franklin Alli and Naomi Uzor
7 November 2009
President Umaru Musa Yar'adua, weekend, tasked trade fair organisers (chambers of commerce) in the country to use domestic fairs to promote new technological and industrial breakthrough by Nigerian scientists and industrialists instead of showcasing foreign products which accounts for more than 80 per cent of exhibited items at the fairs.
The President made this charge when he declared opened the 24th edition of Lagos International Trade Fair, styled "Turning the global economic crisis into new opportunities."
Represented by the Minister of Commerce & Industry, Chief Achike Udenwa, P resident Yar'adua asserted that showcasing the country's technological and industrial breakthroughs are critical to the attainment of vision 2020, stressing that the essence of trade shows are to display technological innovations.
"Our fairs, therefore, should be avenues for showcasing of new products from our industries and creating avenues for scientists, innovators, industrialists, wholesalers, retailers and consumers to meet and interact so as to further boost industrial production."
However, according to NACCIMA President, Dr. Simon Okolo, if Nigeria is to become one of the twenty most industrilaised nations of the world by the year 2020, the Federal Government must put in place appropriate strategies directed at achieving the promised provision of the 6,000 megawatts of electricity supply.
"We equally urge the government to take necessary steps to further ensure the security of lives and property as a way of attracting the much needed foreign direct investment into the coutry, which could turn the global crisis into new opportunities in Nigeria," said Okolo.
The President of Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Asiwaju Solomon Onafowonkan has urged investors to focus on opportunities offered by the platform in terms of networking to expand their businesses.
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