Industry players have given mixed reviews of the 34th Malawi International Trade Fair, which concluded on 29th May 2024.
Benson Manda, Head of Sales at Chibuku Products Limited, one of the exhibitors at the fair, said the trade fair provided a platform for businesses to showcase their products and services.
However, Manda told MIJ Online that more needs to be done to make the annual event vibrant and capitalize fully on its potential benefits.
“I suggest that next year they should intensify awareness of the event to increase patronage as well as reduce the gate fee, otherwise this is a great platform for businesses to network and share trade information,” said Manda
On the other hand, another exhibitor DAPP Malawi through its Public Relations Officer Christopher Nhlane said the trade fair accorded the organization an opportunity to reach a bigger audience with their products and services.
“As you may know, many people out there know us by our wholesale and retail shops where we sale second hand clothes and shoes, but through the this trade fair we were able to showcase our varied products and services which include vocational trainings, agriculture and environmental conservation through recycling, redesigning and reuse of second hand clothes,” Nhlane explained
Meanwhile Orama Chiphwanya, Communications Executive for the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, hailed the trade fair as a success, saying it has fulfilled its objectives.
Chiphwanya noted the significant gains made by businesses, including the opportunity to learn more on the offerings of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area, with the presence of the ACFTA mission throughout the event as well as information sessions provided by other relevant bodies such as the Malawi Bureau of Standards (MBS).
“Next year we are coming back bigger and better because we take every event as a learning opportunity and we take every feedback positively. However we are proud that all the activities and the goals we set to achieve this year we have been able to do so,” said Chiphwanya