download (8)No less than 200 foreign companies are expected in Enugu in the next few weeks for the 26th Enugu International Trade Fair.

The President of the Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA), Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, who disclosed this on Thursday, said the companies would be coming from China, India, the United States, among others.

Dr. Okoye spoke while addressing a press conference in Enugu to flag off activities for the 26th Enugu International Trade Fair slated to begin on March 27 and to end on April 6, 2015.

He said the fair would be declared open by President Goodluck Jonathan. Okoye, however, appealed to the Federal Government to give the chamber the approval to partner the private sector in the development of facilities at the permanent site of Enugu International Trade Fair Complex.

The President of ECCIMA) stated that there was still infrastructure deficit at the permanent site even though the state government had been of great help in maintaining internal roads and general environmental status of the complex.

He stated that this year’s fair would attract the highest number of foreign firms in attendance ranging from 150 to 200 firms expected from India, United Kingdom, United States, China and other parts of the world.

The ECCIMA President stated that the essence of the fair was to get business minded people, researchers and innovators together to interact and then go back to develop themselves.

Okoye said that ECCIMA was aware of the general elections slated for this month, noting that they had started preparing for the fair working with the current time table of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), but at the same time ready to make any necessary adjustment if desired.

Answering questions from journalists, Dr. Okoye stated that Enugu International Trade Fairs had impacted positively the economy of Enugu, South East and Nigeria in general.

“The results are there, we have a lot of companies in Enugu state and they have gained a lot from the past fairs. I can mention a company like Innoson, which all of you know; he manufactures vehicles now.

“They have been coming to participate in the Trade Fair, manufacturing plastics, now they are manufacturing vehicles,” he said.

He expressed the optimism that this year’s fair would a great success, adding that it had been packaged.

The ECCIMA boss announced that they were collaborating with banks and. marketing communication firm based in Lagos to enhance and boost the level of participation and visitors to the Fair through a unique introduction of gift presentations to lucky visitors to the Fair.

He gave the theme of this year’s Fair as “Engineering the Nation’s Business Climate for Enhanced Industrialization, Investment Inflow and Empowerment Generation”, even as he announced that the opening ceremony would be chaired by Prince Arthur Eze, chairman of Oranto Petroleum and Atlas Petroleum International Ltd.