29 Aug 2023

The tagline of the ongoing Consumer Fair: Engage, shop and showcase captures the essence of what Botswana aspires to achieve.

Officially opening the Consumer Fair on Monday, Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Choppies Botswana, Mr Vinod Madhavan, said the tagline called on consumers to shop locally and to support Botswana’s Small Medium and Micro Enterprises.

Mr Madhavan said supporting them meant engaging them and empowering them to thrive and make a significant impact in the economy.

“At Choppies, we firmly believe in the potential of SMMES as engines of economic growth and innovation,” he said, adding that they were committed to supporting local businesses and that they stocked products from local  SMMEs.

He said it was through engagement, collaboration and partnerships with SMMEs that businesses could thrive. Showcasing the resilience, adaptability and ingenuity of all businesses in the country meant fostering consumer confidence in the quality and integrity of products and services offered.

He commended the organisers for increasing exhibition stalls from 550 to 570, saying it was a significant growth and made the fair the best and largest in the calendar of events.

On the theme of the fair: “Fostering consumer confidence through business resilience post COVID-19 pandemic”, he said it resonated with the challenges businesses had faced and the triumphs they had achieved in the wake of the global pandemic.

Mr Madhavan said collective resilience was a powerful force that could drive the country to a brighter and more prosperous future. He added that by working together we could foster consumer confidence and build a thriving economy that benefited every citizen.

The Chief Executive Officer of Fairground Holdings, Ms Gorata Gabaraane, said they were not just celebrating their resilience, but also the growth they had achieved from the previous years.

“It is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, the support of our partners, sponsors, consumer fair stakeholder committee and the trust our valued exhibitors have on us,” she said.

Ms Gabaraane said it was the traders hub where commerce thrived and provided local brands with market access by linking them with buyers and value chain participants.

“This vibrant platform offers unparalleled opportunities for manufacturers of locally produced goods to connect, learn and grow their businesses.

We are committed to providing an ecosystem where businesses flourish, thrive and achieve their full potential,” she said.

She noted that exhibitors were locals, from the region and internationally representing countries such as South Africa, Ghana, Eswatini, Egypt, China, Japan, Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia.ENDS