Namibia: Ongwediva Fair Opens Its Gates

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New Era (Windhoek)

22 August 2008
Posted to the web 22 August 2008

Anna Ingwafa
Ongwediva

The Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) 2008 will open its gates today until Saturday August 29, 2008.

Ongwediva Town Chief Executive Officer Damian Egumbo briefed journalists yesterday to update them on the final arrangements for the much-anticipated fair.

Egumbo said a total number of 486 exhibitors have confirmed and paid for their stands, including 62 international exhibitors who will showcase their products at the fair.

Thirteen exhibitors came from South Africa under the auspices of the Limpopo provincial government.

Other international exhibitors registered come from as far as Botswana, China, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, Japan, Pakistan, Tanzania, Kenya and Zimbabwe.

Egumbo noted the show has attracted a large number of visitors from a total of 38 797 since its inception in 2002 to 68 216 last year.

He attributed the high turnout of visitors to reasonable charges at the gates which are N$5 per child, for adults N$10 each while vehicles cost N$10 per entrance.

On safety and security measures, Egumbo noted "safety and security of exhibitors and visitors to the OATF is of paramount importance to us. To ensure that we root out crime during the fair we are going to team up again with the Namibian police and other law enforcement agents, as well as private security companies to develop and implement strategies aimed at curbing crime in and around the trade fair."

Police have set up a substation within the trade fair premises.

Since the fair started, according to Egumbo, there has been a lot of car break-ins at the car parking area along the load.

This year the trade fair committee has decided to prohibit parking along the main road. He urged the visitors to use the secure parking at the northern side of the trade fair centre.

Egumbo also shared the plans of the trade fair for next year. "The construction of an additional exhibition hall with a capacity of maximum 70 exhibitor stands is due to commence soon and will only be ready for use during the OATF 2009. The total estimated construction costs currently stand at N$ 3 million."

The management of the trade fair centre has recently commissioned a cleaning programme for the trade fair centre while renovation work and upgrading of the electricity supply infrastructure are set to commence soon, according to the chief executive officer.

MTC is the official and main sponsor of the OATF 2008 for the second year running in terms of the sponsorship agreement between the two.

Other sponsors are First National Bank for the official opening ceremony, Standard Bank for the awards ceremony, while Namibia Breweries Limited will sponsor equipment for special functions and Air Namibia sponsors air travel for officials.

The official launch that was held a fortnight ago raised funds for OATF to the tune of N$843 293 towards the show.

Gates will be open for the public as from 10h00 today.

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