2015 Nepad Africa Trade Fair Of Indigenous Products And Services, National Organising Committe Inuagurated

The 2015 NEPAD Africa Trade Fair of Indigenous Products and Services National Organising Committee (NOC) have been inaugurated. The Special Adviser to the president on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development, Amb. Fidelia Njeze while inaugurating the NOC at the Nicon Luxury Hotel Abuja, charged them to work assiduously to make the Trade Fair a resounding success.

She stated that “this is a great opportunity for us all to showcase what we have in Africa’’. She said, “I wish to use this opportunity to extend the gratitude of NEPAD Nigeria to your individual commitment to this event’’.

She pointed out that NEPAD Nigeria identified the urgent need for Nigeria and other African countries to diversify their economy, develop local content and enhance the competitiveness of their Products in the International market.

Amb. Njeze said the 2015 NEPAD Trade Fair is expected to consist of a 5-day-exhibition of African made products, 2-day business and Investment Forum on Africa, Africa Achievement Awards, Gallery of African Art and Culture; African Movie Premiere and African Fashion Parade. It is also expected to be used as a platform for facilitating the NEPAD Product certification, designed to open windows of opportunity for African made products in the international export market and a standard of regulation for ensuring that only quality products are imported or exported from Africa.

The committee comprises of 25 members with the Chairman, Director Programme Development and Implimentation, Mr Sunday Ogu and the secretary, Mr G.O. Ogazi, Assistant Director (PDI).

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the NOC and Director, (PDI) NEPAD Nigeria, Mr Sunday Ogu said the Planning Committee in their previous meetings took far reaching decisions towards the successful hosting of the 2015 NEPAD Trade Fair. He reiterated the commitment of the committee to the Special Adviser, stressing that, “I have absolute confidence in the committee as constituted and its ability to successfully host the 2015 NEPAD Africa Trade Fair of Indigenous Products and Services’’.

The vice chairman of the NOC and president of the African Trade Centre (ATC), Mr Prince Oddy Nwaubani while giving reports of the previous meeting, encouraged all the sub-committee to immediately swing into action, asking them to submit brief strategies towards achieving their outlined assignments at the next meeting.

The 2^nd edition of NEPAD Africa Trade Fair of Indigenous Products and Services slated for October is designed as a veritable tool that would contribute effectively to the socioeconomic transformation of Africa and indeed Nigeria. The initiative is a product of a successful partnership between NEPAD Nigeria and Africa Trade Centre with the support and approval of the federal government of Nigeria.

The regional participants are Nigeria, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Egypt, Gabon, and Cameroon in collaboration with NEPAD state coordinators and other relevant ministries and agencies.

Janet McDickson

CPS/Head, Media Unit

NEPAD Nigeria