23 Aug 2015

Since its inception, the Botswana Consumer Fair has seen growth in number of bookings of stalls for exhibition in recent years.

A notable increase was this year, which saw 580 bookings, while the majority of exhibitors comprised the Small Micro Medium Enterprises (SMMEs).

This year, the Botswana Consumer Fair celebrated a journey of a decade, its 10^th Anniversary as a premier business event.

Speaking at consumer fair award ceremony, Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) Mr Letsebe Sejoe said the exhibitors at the consumer fair were very crucial as they drove the country’s economic growth. He said the fact that most of the exhibitors were SMMEs, this meant that the fair contributed a lot to the economy of Gaborone.

Mr Sejoe also said some of the 24 foreign exhibitors came to Botswana for partnerships and to find new markets for their products at the same time contributing to the country’s economy.

On the other hand, Fairgrounds Holdings chief executive officer, Mr Michael Montshiwa noted that a study conducted in 2012, had revealed that the consumer fair contributed P43 million to the economy of the city, while P17 million of the amount was from stall bookings and sales.

He said from inception, the consumer fair had grown by over 37 per cent and had proven to be a premier business event.

Meanwhile, the exhibitors were as usual awarded prizes, and winners among others included BoMAID under the medical aid service providers, Live O’ Live under catering and events, Capricorn legal insurance services under insurance service providers and Botswana Institute of Chattered Accounts under the educational institutions category.

Other categories included financial institutions and Non-Bank Financial Institutions Regulatory Authority emerged the winner, Desktop Holdings won under electronics and Medical Rescue International won under emergency services among other categories. Ends