*To set up organising c’ttee, this week
By Mike Adeyemi
In a bid to have a hitch free 7th edition trade fair in the state, the Kwara Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KWACCIMA) has solicited for sponsorship from companies and individuals.
Director General of the chamber, Barrister Prince Ayo Fagbemi in a chat with Pilot Business last Friday disclosed that the commission has written letters to Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Dangote Group of Companies, KAM Industry and Padson, seeking sponsors even as he maintained that government alone cannot finance the project.
He stressed that the trade fair is scheduled to hold March, 2018 and has so far gulped N3.5million even as he noted that the total fund expended on the previous edition was N16million.
According to him, “we’ve met the state government for financial assistance, but they are yet to release any grant in support of the project.
Fagbemi said, “But as beggar, you don’t have a choice than to collect what you are given, we want to assist government in the economic drive of the state, as people would be able to showcase their products even the local governments will come up with their economic potentialities.”
He noted further that the commission has established partnership with foreign investors like Chinese company on cassava processing, adding that they’ve been urged to set up their plant in the state rather than exporting our raw material to their country.
“We partner with a Chinese company on cassava processing, we’ve asked them to bring their equipment to establish a plant here instead of exporting our raw materials to china, they have agreed on this, this will benefit us too as our youths will be employed to work in the companies.
“The Indonesia came here too, they demanded for raw materials but we declined, our instruction was that they should bring their equipment here. They’ve agreed, though we’re yet to sign a Memorandum of Understanding with them.
In the same vein, the KWACCIMA boss said the commission will Tuesday set up committee that will oversee the project, noting that reputable personalities in the state will be considered. Fagbemi said anywhere trade fair is carried out, it showcased the economic potentials of that place. It will increases the economic activities of the state as this would afford traders in Kwara State an avenue to increase their sales, invariably go a long way to portray to the whole world that Kwara state is an economic hub.
Fagbemi stressed further that part of logistics the chamber has put in place in order to ensure all inclusiveness in the trade fair is to stage a road show, radio jingles, the traditional rulers are to be carried along, the artisan in Kwara state are to be mobilised toward the trade fair and all the media houses will be fully informed.
He said KWACCIMA is an NGO, and raise its finances through individual members, adding that government Abdulfatah Ahmed is fully ready to support the commission towards making the trade fair a success.
