Over 400 local and international companies are expected to participate in the 18th Rwanda International Trade Fair organised by the Private Sector Federation (PSF) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry.

The expo will be hosted at the Gikondo Expo Grounds in Kicukiro District will run for two weeks from July 29 to August 12, Ephraim Karangwa, the head of trade fair and investments at PSF, said.

The annual event has so far attracted 150 foreign exhibitors, from Turkey, Botswana, Senegal, Nigeria, Egypt India, Pakistan, Dubai, Singapore, Malaysia and East African Community countries, among others.

Companies from the manufacturing, agro-processing, beverages, leather, textile, real estate, banking and telecommunications sectors are expected to exhibit innovative products and technologies during the event.

About 330 exhibitors from 15 countries and 78 foreign companies participated in the trade fair last year.

Karangwa said they are expecting more than 270,000 showgoers compared to 265000 that visited the exhibition last year.

Local exhibitors are optimistic the event will provide them an opportunity to network and share experiences with their foreign counterparts.

"It is critical that we participate in such exhibitions to learn and forge partnerships with the rest of the world,” Alphonse Nsabimana, a Kigali-based businessman, said.

Trade fairs are also important tools of product development and marketing, he added.

Last year, government pledged to support the private sector to construct modern and bigger expo grounds in Kagarama sector in Kicukiro District. However, according to sources at PSF, the project will now be constructed simultaneously with Gahanga Olympic Sports facility in Kicukiro district.

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