06 Aug 2015

The upcoming 10^th Botswana Consumer Fair will be filled with splendour and fun to mark the milestone. 

Addressing members of the media in Gaborone recently, Botswana Consumer Fair chief executive officer, Mr Michael Montshiwa said the event has seen impressive growth in terms of exhibitors from 400 in 2006 to 550 in 2015, adding that it was a 37.5 per cent growth between the baseline period and the current year.

“This year’s event has managed to attract over 550 exhibitors including 30 local manufactures, 21 exhibitors from foreign countries such as China, Egypt, Japan, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Africa, Swaziland and Zambia representing five per cent of the total number of exhibitors,” he said.

Mr Montshiwa said the contribution of the trade fair to the economy of the country was commendable since its inception in 2006.

“The event continues to contribute to the socio-economic development of this country through supporting significant sectors of the Small Micro Medium enterprises (SMMEs) during the lifecycle of the event,” he said.

He also noted that the fair creates a platform for business ideas which could lead to entrepreneurial opportunities and job creation to boost government’s efforts to diversify the economy.

However, despite the contributions and the benefits indicated by the fair, some challenges have been experienced in the year 2011. 

Mr Montshiwa the fair was challenged due to external socio-economic factors such as the  world economic melt-down, the civil servants strike and a seven per cent decline in business.

Nonetheless, Mr Montshiwa stated that all the constraints passed with time, and that the fair demonstrated resilience and proved to be on a positive growth path to date. 

He said the importance of the consumer fair has been recognised by political and corporate leaders in the country.

The fair will also be child friendly as the Botswana Red Cross has once again partnered with the organisers of the fair for the security of the young ones. 

A representative from Botswana Red Cross, Mr Obakeng Sethamo said volunteers will be available to help children.

He said as it’s their mandate to protect human rights, the society finds it fit to collaborate with fair organisers for the interest of children. He said last year they managed to assist 60 children who were lost to their parents.

The fair is scheduled to start on August 17 and tickets are already available for entry. Ends