2018 Lagos Int’l Trade Fair: Foreign exhibitors explore Nigeria’s business potential

Some international exhibitors at the ongoing 2018 Lagos International Trade Fair were optimistic of exploring more patronage during the 10-day annual exhibition.

The exhibitors, who spoke in interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Saturday, said that they envisaged hitch-free trading sessions just like the previous years.

NAN reports that the annual trade fair, which is in its 32nd year, is organised by the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) and reputed to be the largest international trade fair in Nigeria.

About 200 foreign exhibitors from 16 countries are participating at this year’s fair, which has an average of 2000 exhibitors and over 500,000 expected visitors.

The countries represented at the fair include: China, Japan, India, Indonesia, Ghana, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey, Cameroun, Kenya and Singapore.

Other countries are: Jamaica, Republic of Benin, South Africa and the European Union.

Tatyana Buchak, a Ukrainian Manufacturer of  “My Coffee’’, who had been in the country for close to 10 years, said she looked forward to connecting with more business-inclined persons for the furtherance of her business.

Buchak said Nigeria was a good place for business to thrive, considering its population of about 180 million people.

“I am looking forward to meeting many business-inclined persons from different countries so as to expand my business and I know this is the best avenue for that,’’ she said.

Also, Chiharu Yamamura, Deputy Trade Commissioner, Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), said he expected women to embrace the special sales promotion on Japanese health and beauty products exhibited at the fair.

Yamamura said that Nigerian women were known to be keen about their beauty and family’s health.

“Hence, I hope that those products will solve most problems confronting them in their health and beauty regimen’’.

“We have been coming to the fair since 2014 and this is the first time we will have promotional sales on our beauty and health products.

“There are a good number of Japanese companies present here, which are selling their products at subsidised rates. The products include hair extensions, shampoo, cosmetics, hair colouration and a lot more.

“I know that Nigerian women are very busy but have very keen interest in maintaining their beauty and sound health, so we are out for such women,’’ the Japanese official said.

Another exhibitor from China, Miao Shujin, said he had been an ardent exhibitor for years and hoped for a secure and neat environment for uninterrupted business transactions.

Shujin said that the Lagos international trade fair remained the largest fair in West Africa where businesses are created and improved on.

“The previous fairs have been very impactful. I look forward to huge sales period in a tidy and secure environment,’’ he said.

Veana Nednyhaico-Ucer from Ukraine Chambers of Commerce said she was exhibiting at the fair for the first time.

Nednyhaico-Ucer said that she had come for a feasibility study of the country in order to facilitate future business transactions with Nigerians.

According to her, Nigeria happens to be the biggest country in West Africa with people who had huge business acumen.

She said that she hoped to give a report of proceedings at the fair to Ukrainian Government.

“I have only come to observe the Nigerian business terrain for future business transactions with Nigerians and some other countries.

“This is a place we can share business ideas. This is a place we can market Ukrainian products.

“We manufacture a lot of goods. We have so much electrical products, raw materials for further production and more; what we need is a market for them,’’ she said.

Nednyhaico-Ucer noted that many Nigerians studies in Ukraine and in 2018, no fewer than 4,000 Nigerians graduated from various Ukrainian tertiary institutions.

She said that this was an indication that the two countries could be compatible doing business together.

Also speaking with NAN, a Ghanaian Exhibitor, Lisa Efua, said her expectations are primarily to learn new business strategies which would be unraveled during the seminar sessions.

“I want to learn more business strategies to move my business forward,’’ Efua said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the 2018 Lagos International Trade Fair commenced on Nov. 2 and would come to an end on Nov. 11. (NAN)