29 Aug 2018

Organisers of the second Francistown and North East District joint Poverty Eradication Expo promise a bigger and better exposition.

 The expo, which will be held from September 3 to 6 at the agricultural market near Francistown City Council (FCC) Fire Station, will target 100 exhibitors.

The exhibitions will include eight sectors of arts and culture, construction, animal production, services and manufacturing, food processing, chemicals, and textiles.

Francistown District Poverty Eradication coordinator, Mr Louis Mlilo explained in an interview that the expo themed: Public, private partnership for a poverty-free generation, would give beneficiaries an opportunity to market and sell their products.

Mr Mlilo said the theme was coined looking at the fact that they wanted to bring people and public sectors together, saying poverty eradication beneficiaries in the bakery sector were already benefiting through training by Pick’nPay Francistown supermarket.

He also added that all primary schools in Francistown were supplied with bread from poverty eradication beneficiaries.

The coordinator further stated that the other objectives of the expo were to give beneficiaries of the poverty eradication a chance to showcase their products as well as getting an opportunity to sell to the public.

Mr Mlilo further explained that it would also give beneficiaries a chance to network and benchmark on other beneficiaries and customers.

He added that the expo would also give Batswana knowledge of how and where they could access services.

He explained that this year’s the expo was expected to be bigger and better compared to last year’s as beneficiaries have learned what was expected of them.

He explained again that this was due to the fact that this year they introduced fish exhibition from the North East District which was currently in high demand in the city and surrounding areas.

The guest speaker is Botswana Savings Bank Francistown branch manager, Mr Maxwell Masuku.

The setting of tents and display exhibition will be done on September 3 while judging of exhibitions and stalls will be done the following day with the official opening on Wednesday September 4.

Mr Mlilo encouraged Batswana to come and support the expo, saying with their support they could grow and be able to stand on their own and have sustainable lives. ENDS