LCCI announces big changes for Lagos International Trade Fair

Ahead of its November 2 -11 Lagos International Trade Fair, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) says it wants replicate the ambience found in international fairs by moving booking process from physical registration to online, banning loud speakers and carnival dancing and introducing marquee tents in place of wooden ones .

Gabriel Idahosa, vice president and chairman, Trade Promotions Board of LCCI, in a visit to BusinessDay’s Apapa office last Wednesday, along with Segun Alabi, head corporate communications and Sola Oluwadare, assistant trade promotion manager, said that after 31 years of organising the Lagos International Trade Fair, the chamber has evolved into an enterprise, adopting a constant theme, which will henceforth be, ‘Connecting Businesses, Creating Value’.

“We have redesigned the website to allow for online booking as no physical bookings will be allowed. When you book online, you are guaranteed a space along with the facilities, which you can see on a map,” Idahosa said.

Elaborating on the other big changes planned for the fair, Idahosa said henceforth exhibitors will not be allowed to bring loud speakers and erect dancing stages.

“It begs the question, is it a trade fair or a carnival? If I come to international trade fairs in London, Dubai or even Kenya, is that the same kind of ambience I will see?”

Idahosa said announcements will only be made from a public address system and every exhibitor will have an opportunity to make one in order to advertise its products or services.

The next big change, according to vice president, is that wooden tents will mostly be replaced with marquee tents, which measures about 25ft by 90ft and eventually aim for total elimination of wooden tents in future events. This would prevent hawkers and other unauthorised people have access to the fair, explained Idahosa.

Oluwadare said that the decision to switch to online bookings has opened up new opportunities for the fair including more foreign participation. He said exhibitors from China and Japan and about 17 other countries in Europe, Africa and other parts of the world have expressed interest to participate.

“We have also divided the stands by sectors. So once you make bookings online, you will exhibit your product or service in the designated area,” said Oluwadare.

LCCI said it is expecting over 2,000 exhibitors from Nigeria and outside the country and expects to receive about 500,000 visitors. The visitors would include school tour groups, government ministries and department officials, and the general public.

Alabi explained that elaborate preparations have been made to ensure that there is adequate coverage of the International Trade Fair through the creation of a Media Centre to be prominently located at a strategic location on the grounds for effective coverage.

“The Media Centre will have laptops with internet connections so that journalists can write their reports and send in for publication right there at the stand,” Alabi said.

ISAAC ANYAOGU