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Chamber registers record MITF entry
By
Denis Mzembe - 23-04-2003 |
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A record 10 countries have confirmed participation in this year’s Malawi International Trade Fair (MITF) to be officially opened from May 23, Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) executive director Chancellor Kaferapanjira said yesterday.
Addressing journalists in Blantyre, Kaferapanjira said participating foreign countries so far are Republic of China, Egypt, Germany, Kenya, Mozambique, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
He said 194 local exhibitors have since registered to participate in the international fair which will run up to June 1.
“Realising that the manufacturing industry is facing economic difficulties, the trade fair is one way of promoting the industry at all levels. We are giving our various industries an opportunity to expose themselves to the international market,” he said.
Kaferapanjira said the MITF will be open to all types of business including manufacturers, traders and service providers in sectors such as agro-processing, motor vehicles, household goods, textiles, furniture, pharmaceuticals, telecommunications, opticals, banks and others.
He also said for the first time the Common Market for East and Southern Africa (Comesa) will participate in the fair.
“The participation of the Comesa secretariat is particularly significant in that the Malawi business community and all other participants will have the opportunity to understand more about Comesa and its role as an important trade and investment bloc,” the MCCCI boss said.
Senior Trade Promotion Officer Flossie Manyunya dismissed any possibillity that this year’s fair would be reduced to a “flea market’ like other previous fairs.
“We will separate the selling areas from the exhibition areas. And we have also arranged that different activities like business days and trading days be held on different days,” she said.
Manyunya also assured the public that security will be stepped up at this year’s fair with a heavier police presence.
The MCCCI boss also disclosed that for the first time his office has set up a publicity and protocol committee to help publicise activities leading to the MITF.
A member of the committee, R Mpinganjira, said the committee has since drawn up a programme that will include press conferences, mobile publicity vans, radio and TV panel discussions, introduction of flyers and corporate gingles to be flown by the electronic media, among other activities.
“Most importantly we appreciate the initiative by the chamber of commerce to involve the media in the organisation of this year’s fair. We have in the past watched the process from the sidelines. It shows the institution recognises the role the media can play in national development,” he said.
Other committees working towards the success of this year’s fair include the essential services committee and the judges committee.
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