9 - 15 May 2002
Issue No.585
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Al-Ahram Weekly Online 9 - 15 May 2002 Issue No.585 |
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Africa exhibition draws crowds
EGYPTIAN consumers gave African products a vote of confidence when hundreds of visitors filled the Nasr City fair grounds last week for the Eighth Annual African Trade Fair, reports Eman Youssef. More than thirty-eight African countries and 500 local companies participated in the exhibition, which was organised by the General Organisation for International Exhibitions and Fairs (GOIEF). Business was brisk at the various pavilions as visitors found attractive goods at reasonable prices.
The 11-day exhibition comprised pavilions representing several African countries displaying a vast array of products, ranging from heavy industrial machinery to stylish furniture and small household appliances.
Mohamed El-Said, chairman of GOIEF, told Al-Ahram Weekly that the large number of African exhibitors showed that Egypt could attract quality foreign investment. GOIEF, for its part, provided "a meeting place to assist networking between Egyptian and foreign businessmen," according to El-Said. "This exhibition will help Egyptian products access the African market." He added that support is given to both local and foreign exhibitors as part of the Egyptian government's policy of enhancing trade ties with African countries.
As part of the exhibition, a series of seminars was organised by various chambers of commerce addressing issues related to export, investment and trade promotion, according to El-Said. Also represented at the fair were small and medium enterprises, young exporters and private sector ventures from the industrial communities.
For the first time, the government-organised venue has vied with private-sector sponsored exhibits. Egypt's exports to the Common Market for East and South Africa (COMESA) countries increased from $31 million in 1998 to $51 million in 2001.
Abdi Hussein, director of the Ethiopian pavilion, said that the direct contact between business people that such fairs offer was the most important object of the event. Ahmed Sami, from the governorate of Zamfarua, said that the Nigerian pavilion allowed bilateral economic and trade ties to be furthered.
Ibrahim El-Zayer, director of the Tunisian pavilion, said his pavilion was the exhibition's largest, adding that this reflects the great attention Tunisia pays to the Egyptian market. On display were automobile spare parts, foodstuff and equipment.
"Algeria usually participates at the fair as a result of the successful trade agreements and transactions we do every year," Said Ali Farid, director of the Algerian Pavilion, said.
The exhibition was inaugurated by Youssef Boutros-Ghali, minister of foreign trade. Fayza Abul-Naga, minister of state for foreign affairs and international cooperation also visited the fair and asserted its importance in boosting trade with African countries.
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