Vice President Kashim Shettima said the revival of the Commercial and Industrial Trade Fair after a 14-year hiatus marked a new dawn for the Nigerian economy.
Shettima made the remarks while delivering his keynote address as Special Guest of Honour at the official opening ceremony of the Commercial and Industrial Trade Fair (CITF) 2024, themed, “Strengthening Nigeria’s Commercial and Industrial Sectors Through Trade and Investment,” held on Sunday.
The event would run till November 26.
Shettima, who was represented by Special Adviser to the President on Regional Development, Temitope Masha, stated that this year’s CITF presented a powerful platform to showcase the resilience and innovation of Nigeria’s indigenous industries, provide local players with the opportunity to connect with global partners, explore new markets and foster international collaborations.
CITF is the brainchild of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex Management Board, aimed at stimulating growth across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.
According to the Executive Director, Lagos International Trade Fair Complex, Barr. Vera Ndanusa, the vision of reviving the CITF aligns with the broader vision of the African Continental Free Trade Area, as it brings together exhibitors from across the world to showcase their products to a diverse and multicultural audience.
Ndanusa added that beyond the exhibitions, CITF presented a platform for businesses to network with international players, forge strong business alliances, showcase industry innovation and drive sustainable progress.
Ndanusa stated, “CITF speaks to the AfCFTA agenda, it speaks to trade and investment, and it speaks to attracting investment and retaining investment. Those are the cardinal points we hope to achieve.
“Nigerian entrepreneurs work very hard and we owe it to them to give them an enabling environment to make them thrive. I am pleased to inform you that we have about 400 registered quality exhibitors for this event and more are still coming.”
Ndanusa explained that the event was strategic for the sub-region as it served as a precursor to the MSME Forum, which will be hosted in Nigeria in the coming year.
She stated that the CITF “serves as a gateway to the West African market offering exhibitors access to a vast consumer base in ECOWAS countries”.
Minister of Trade and Investment, Mrs. Olajumoke Oduwole, stated that the initiative spoke to the visionary leadership of President Bola Tinubu who had appointed a fitting professional to pilot the affairs of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex.
Oduwole urged stakeholders and investors to come out in their numbers to support the event, stating that opportunities exist to make Lagos not just the commercial hub of Nigeria but also the commercial hub of the continent.
Sunday Ehigiator
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