Million visitors expected at Ghana International Fair

The 16th edition of the Ghana Trade Fair Company’s flagship fair was on Thursday, January 19, 2012, launched at the premises of the outfit in Accra, with a promise by officials of the GTFC to redeem the image of an event, which used to be Ghana’s only and recognized trade exhibition.

This year’s “rebranded package including but not limited to the expectation of some 900 exhibitors and one million visitors within a period of 16 days to grace the fair”, according to acting Chief Executive Officer of the GTFC, Mr. Ebenezer Okpoti Koney comes at a time when his outfit is achieving a lot for itself and ready to impact onto the Ghanaian trader.

Opening on February 23rd and ending on March 10th, this year, the 16th edition according to the organizers would see “participants from China, Turkey, India, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Italy, the America’s, South Africa and the Ecowas sub region” taking part. The organizers have said the fair aims at creating the necessary platform for exhibitors both local and foreign, to promote their wares to potential customers.

The theme for this year’s fair is “Harnessing Opportunities for Growth of the Trade industry”. Some I million visitors are expected to come for the fair; a record number the GTFC is keen on achieving.

Nana Kwame Ofori-Amanfo, acting deputy CEO of GTFC said: “the 2012 Ghana International Fair will effectively combine quality activities and the massive media involvement as well as using entertainment as a communication tool to achieve its goals”. This year’s International Trade Fair, according to Mr. Ofori-Amanfo, is going to hinge around eight thematic areas including, Entertainment, Competitive pricing, One-stop shopping center, Business matchmaking / Networking opportunities, media center, Product launches / trend launches, Symposia and workshops.

Exhibitors would include those from the manufacturing, Agriculture, oil & gas, finance, export and import, automobile and telecommunication industry.

The organizers also announced that six mainstream musicians will headline six big concerts on different dates during the period. Present at the launch was dancehall act Samini, who as part of activities marking the 16th edition, would on Ghana’s Independence Day, March 6, 201, hold a big concert at the venue.

Registration for exhibitors in the 16th Ghana International Fair is on-going and scheduled to end on February 20, 2012.

This year’s event comes on the back of a successful one held last year.