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Abia Gears Up For Aba Trade Fair, Plans For Security, Hospitality
The Abia State government has declared its readiness for an intense commitment to the success of the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair.
Towards this end, the state government added that it had put everything in place to ensure the event’s success.
Deputy Governor, Engr. Ikechukwu Emetu, who spoke in Umuahia on Monday, said that Governor Alex Otti has thrown the full weight of the administration to guarantee the smooth execution and delivery of the 10-day event.
He revealed that the trade fair will commence on November 28 and run until December 7 at the Aba Mega Mall, located along the Aba-Port Harcourt Expressway.
Emetu added that the Aba International Trade Fair is expecting over 10,000 participants from different parts of the country and beyond to exhibit their products and innovations, shop for their business and household needs and make important business and social connections.
The Abia deputy governor said that because the government understands the importance of the trade fair to the Aba business community and the economy of Abia State, it has taken adequate steps to reduce the possibility of failures on any front.
He said, “Abia, as you know, has emerged as one of the safest and most secure destinations in the region, following the determination of the Dr Otti administration to create a supportive environment for local businesses, visitors, and others who interact with the state’s social and economic environment.
“The government will go one step further for this trade fair by working effectively with all national and local security organisations to keep everyone who will be in Aba for the trade fair safe.”
Emetu said that security infrastructure and personnel will be deployed at the trade fair venue for round-the-clock surveillance operations to guarantee the safety of the participants, their products, and other critical infrastructure that will be set up there.
He stressed that the government has practically taken measures to ensure that there will be no security threats or gaps before, during and after the trade fair.
He added, “We anticipate the influx of visitors, business people and shoppers to Aba for the Trade Fair. We have therefore taken steps to guarantee effective security arrangements for everyone no matter what part of the town they are staying in.
“The security teams have been effectively mobilised and have since started work in pursuit of our objective for an incidence-free event in Aba this year.
“Our assurance to everyone who is planning to participate in the 2024 Aba International Trade Fair is that they are coming to one of the safest and most secured business destinations in the entire country.”
Emetu said that for an easy commute to and fro the venue of the trade fair for the 10-day period, free shuttle buses shall be stationed at particular times at strategic junctions every morning and evening to safely convey participants to the trade fair venue and bring them back to their hotels at the end of each day.
He informed that this is one of the initiatives to make it easy for visitors to move about in safety and comfort in Aba.
Emetu said that arrangements are also being made to work with hoteliers and other stakeholders in the hospitality business to offer special discounted rates to those who will be visiting for the trade fair, adding that there will be more information on this subsequently.
He said that beyond the great job that has been done on security, welfare and efforts to tell the story of Aba in a different way to guests, the government have also gone ahead to adequately engage with major business communities and interests in various parts of the country.
He enthused, “We have sent out invitations to the governments of the other 35 states of the country, and the Federal Capital Territory, more than 50 embassies and high commissions, different chambers of commerce across the federation, more than 300 businesses including manufacturers and importers, service providers, oil companies and the body of industrialists here in the state and across the country.”
He said the committee is beginning to get good responses from many of them and its expectation is that in the next one week, scores of others will become very interested.
Emetu said that the Aba 2024 International Trade Fair will be more than just commerce, as arrangements are in top gear to organise a rich symposium where they shall discuss the restoration of Aba as a historic land of opportunities for all who dare to believe in the validity of their dreams.
He said that Governor Otti is expected to declare the conference open on November 28 to herald the opening of the trade fair. Dignitaries from Nigeria and beyond are expected to be part of this symposium.