THE 10th Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) kicked off on Friday on a high note, with more than 550 confirmed exhibitors clamouring to show off their business colours.

At the official opening of the trade fair yesterday, President Hifikepunye Pohamba, whose speech was read by Deputy Prime Minister Marco Hausiku, said the trade fair has evolved into a "welcome and popular platform for businesses" to market and sell their goods. The fair has through its steady year on year growth also attracted the interest of international businesses from other African countries and from Asia, the President's message said.

"This demonstrates the confidence exhibitors have developed in the fair, as a good opportunity to market their products and services, as well as to generate revenues."

Organisers have worked hard to secure the OATF's place as "Namibia's number one trade event."

This was said by Deputy Minister of Safety and Security Erastus Amutenya Uutoni, who, as the former mayor of Ongwediva, played a critical role in nurturing the trade fair from a dream to a reality ten years ago.

Uutoni, who was mayor from 1998 to 2010, said in an interview with the OATF magazine that he believes the fair has "spearheaded the growth of Ongwediva over the years. When the fair started in 2000, there was not a single hotel in town."

He said that since 2005, however, several hotels have sprung up, plus a Medi Clinic, an entertainment centre, a shopping mall and other key developments.

In addition, the next year will see the expansion of the fair, in order to provide space for additional and diverse exhibitions from sectors such as "manufacturing, automotive, as well as agricultural industries," Hausiku said on behalf of the President.

Hausiku said the President applauded the efforts of local authorities to host trade fairs, but cautioned that "such undertakings require substantial investments." He urged local stakeholders, and the private sector in particular, to lend their support to such enterprises.

The current Mayor of Ongwediva, Patricia Kashuupulwa, told the same publication that the OATF has "consistently grown and now ranks as the prime multi-sectoral business exposition in Namibia".

The nine day fair does not only provide a platform for established businesses, but also for small and medium enterprises, to create awareness of their products.

In addition, each day at the fair is packed with a number of seminars and entertainment shows.