The annual Rwanda International Trade Fair (RITF) will officially open Thursday afternoon, with Prime Minister Anastase Murekezi expected to officiate at the ceremony at the expo grounds, Gikondo.

As of Wednesday, exhibitors were optimistic that the number of showgoers will increase this year following a bigger number of exhibitors who turned out for the 20^th edition.

It has attracted more than 500 exhibitors up from 420 who participated in 2016.

When The New Times visited the showground at Gikondo, yesterday, some exhibitors were still trying to complete their stalls while others were doing their best to entice the few customers around, giving them brochures and explaining how their products work.

It was also evident that trading had already started in the majority of stalls, while excited shoppers moved around in anticipation of new products at display.

The 20th expo has attracted Some 176 international exhibitors from Africa, Asia and Europe.

Majority are local exhibitors participating in fair who have also increased in number to 324, from 271 last year.

One hundred seventy-six foreign traders from 20 countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Canada, Iran, Pakistani, Turkey, Singapore, Malaysia, Nigeria, Ghana, the US, and East African Community member states, are participating.

According to Private Sector Federation (PSF), more than 300,000 people are expected to attend the trade fair. Government and PSF are using the trade fair to promote locally-made products and create consumer confidence about Made-in-Rwanda goods.