Bright future envisaged for Okakarara show

OKAKARARA, SEPT. 7 – Some national political representatives on Thursday unitedly expressed their desire to see a brighter future for the Okakarara Trade Fair.
The different officials, during the official opening of the show, shared how they wished to see the event becoming big, attractive and the centre of trade interaction between consumers, manufacturers and suppliers of goods and services.
The 12th edition of the Okakarara Trade Fair underway at the Okakarara Fair Trade Centre since Monday, is being organised by the Okakarara Town Council and is expected to end on Sunday.
Okakarara Mayor, Olga Tjiurutue-Katukundu in her welcoming remarks said the town council has a dream to make future events attractive by creating a business atmosphere conducive to exhibitors, visitors and potential investors.
“We will make sure in the next 10 years of this annual event that we create an opportunity where the real business match-making and networking would take place,” she said.
Tjiurutue-Katukundu called on the local farmers as well as small and medium enterprises (SMEs) to actively involve themselves in the activities of the trade fair and also seize the opportunities that come with this weeklong show.
The mayor also urged the SMEs to grow and expand their businesses through networking, sharing of ideas and exploring foreign links in other neighbouring countries or Africa at large.
Otjozondjupa Governor, Otto Ipinge said his vision is to make the event popular to foreign investors that come in contact with him and also to make it more important for the region.
“This should be a great platform for local businesspeople to display their animals, goods and hand-made products. I wish to see this fair developed into a platform that will be liked by the whole country and an event that will add value to our community members at Okakarara,” said Ipinge.
Upon hearing this, Vice President Nangolo Mbumba, who officially opened the event then announced his acceptance to become patron of the fair.
“I accept patronage of this fast-growing trade and agricultural show in the country for the next three years,” said Mbumba.
He said he wants to see it become a unique business platform, where the local companies and farmers would gather to showcase their best locally-produced goods and livestock.
“I envision it becoming a platform where producers, manufacturers, service providers, suppliers and consumers would come with an objective to support one another,” he said.
The 2018 Okakarara Trade Fair attracted three South African exhibitors, with Kenya and Tanzania represented by one exhibitor each. – NAMPA