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Charles Nwaoguji
The economic crunch being experienced in the country may have taken its toll on the ongoing 2019 edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI).
The 10-day annual fair, taking place at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, commenced last Friday November 1, 2019 and it is expected to end on Sunday, November 10, 2019.
Daily Sun learnt that as at Monday, November 4, when the fair entered its 4th day, many spaces allocated to exhibitors were yet to be taken, as this indicates exhibitors’ apathy.
It was further gathered that apart from some of the few foreign exhibitors, who record relatively high number of people visiting their stands, which also does not translate to huge sales, so many other exhibitors recorded low visit to their stands.
A ticket seller at the gate, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that sale of tickets to people to go into the TBS complex where the fair is taking place is generally low, arguing that many people are unwilling to part with the N200 ticket fee to access the fair venue.
One of the exhibitors lamented that there were very low sales, noting that many of those visiting the stands merely come to collect corporate gift items without really buying anything.
On the question as to whether he was making more sales compared to 2018, he said: “Though, we still have two more days to go, and you know that normally we make more sales towards the end of the Fair. What we are experiencing now is not encouraging. I think we made more sales by this time last year when people even said Nigeria was neck-deep into economic recession”.
Investigations also showed that the usual hustle and bustle of the TBS area that have over the years become a major feature of the fair with the attendant high volume of vehicular traffic is yet to be seen around the area nearly one week after the annual event started.
Experts believe that the low turnout and consumers’ apathy that characterise this year’s trade fair is a reflection of current economic realityin the country, characterised by low purchasing power of the consumers in the face of high inflation rate, among several other factors.
The experts also argued that most of the prospective exhibitors are companies that are struggling to remain afloat and may therefore not be able to muster the needed logistics and funds to participate in the Trade Fair, which is more of promotion and creating awareness than making real sales.
This low turnout contradicts earlier projections by the LCCI that over 200 exhibitors from 16 countries as well as scores of indigenous firms would be participating with an average of 500, 000 visitors and buyers.
The Chairman, Trade Promotion Board of the LCCI, Gabriel Idahosa, had told newsmen in Lagos that countries expected at the Fair include China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Ghana, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey, Cameroon, Kenya, and Singapore.
Others include countries from the European Union, Republic of Benin, South Africa and Jamaica which, he said, had expressed their willingness to participate in the annual Fair.
“The 2019 Fair would enhance forging of strategic business partnerships, knowledge transfer, jobs creation and trade promotion among the participating indigenous and foreign exhibitors.
