This year's international trade fair is about manufacturers and how governments can work with the private sector to link producers to markets.

In Rwanda, the story of manufacturers can't be complete without Sulfo Industries, established in 1962, which has proven itself resilient to get through the turbulent times of the early 90s, and today continues to be part of Rwanda's new story of economic progress and sustainable growth.

Following the creation of the Private Sector Federation (PSF) to mobilize the private sector to play a major role in the economic growth, Sulfo is one of its prominent and most active members.

On Thursday, the 16th international trade fair kicked off the at the PSF expo grounds in Gikondo where over 300 firms from 22 countries will be exhibiting to hundreds of thousands of visitors for the next fourteen days. And Sulfo is among them.

"We've been participating in all exhibitions since they stated, and this is the 16th time and every year we come with a new displaying idea and theme," says Atma Prakash, Sulfo's director of Sales & Marketing.

Sulfo's tent is designed to attract, and with its special exhibition pots and very professionally positioned display spaces, it's one of those stalls that stands out of the crowd.

For the occasion, they have employed 10 students who are earning good money as exhibition assistants.

PSF awards the best exhibitors at the end of every exhibition and Sulfo has never missed out; last year it was crowned the best exhibitor under the manufacturers and equipment category.

According to Prakash, the expo is a good platform for publicity and advertisement, with between 15,000 and 20,000 visitors per day and even more in the weekend.

At the Sulfo stand, revellers can expect to find everything from cosmetic to domestic use products and many others from their large portfolio of over 150 products, many of which it pioneered such as Source du Nil, which was Rwanda's first bottled water.

Apart from serving the domestic market, Sulfo is one of Rwanda's leading exporters, thus helping to improve the country's trade balance. Sulfo products are exported to neighboring countries including DRC, Burundi and Uganda.

While it's not easy to remain relevant and competitive in a dynamic economy like Rwanda's, Sulfo has managed to maintain its position as a pioneer on many levels, a feat which Prakash attributes to the company's good customer care and a customer conflict handling system.

"Customer satisfaction is our ultimate goal," Prakash says.