The East African Jua Kali expo, an informal sector promotional event opens today at the Gikondo show ground in Kigali.

Chantal Magnifique, Director of Chamber of Crafts, Artists and Artisans in the Rwanda Private Sector Federation (PSF), said that the exposition has attracted industrialists in craft and art from Burundi, Rwanda, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

These industrialists are dealing in all trades from wood carvings, furniture, pottery, food production, textiles, leather and jewellery. By press time, Magnifique said that over 600 regional exhibitors had registered for participation.

Uganda had registered 159 exhibitors, 234 from Kenya, 269 from Tanzania and 15 from Burundi.

"Rwandan exhibitors are about 200 while others are still registering,” she continued.

Adding: "Some of the regional exhibitors had reached while others are expected before the official opening.” She explained that exhibitors will come together as EAC members to share experiences and network for economic development.

Jua Kail is a Swahili word loosely translated to mean ‘heat’. It is now used to refer to the informal sector. This sector is dominated by the Small and Medium Entrepreneurs (SMEs).

The exposition’s theme is "Empowering SMEs for Industrialisation” and it is scheduled to run untill the 7th of December 2008.

Prime Minister, Bernard Makuza will preside over the opening ceremony on Saturday, Magnifique revealed. The EAC Secretary General, Juma Mwapachu is also expected to attend.
Being a promotional event for SMEs, the Rwanda Bureau of Standards (RBS) will showcase handcraft standards to help artists adjust their standards.

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