The 21st Rwanda International Trade Fair (RITF), commonly known as Expo, is slated to open today at the Gikondo Expo Ground in Kigali.

Stephen Ruzibiza, the chief executive of Private Sector Federation (PSF), said there are several new aspects in this year’s edition, including fees collection, number of exhibitors, duration and profile of expected visitors.

Expo access and payment method

Use of cash to pay for entry will be replaced by an electronic payment system commonly called Tap & Go, an innovation by AC Group.

The method is popular with city public transport. The exhibition goers will use electronic payment cards to access the site through one of the 10 entrances.

Ruzibiza says PSF decided to use these cards solely as they have become increasingly popular across the country.

"The cards are already being used in buses in Kigali with 1.8 million cards in circulation across the country which guarantees that the move will be successful,” he noted.

According to Ruzibiza, PSF chose the new electronic payment system to save time and minimise the usual queues at entrances.

The 2018 expo is a week longer

Ordinarily, the exhibition lasts two weeks; however, this year’s edition is scheduled to run for three weeks, through  August 16.

The extension by a week, he said, followed requests by shoppers  and exhibitors who noted that two weeks were not enough to showcase their merchandise.

"It has been a request for a very long time from both exhibitors and clients who wanted to have expo extended to three weeks,” Ruzibiza said.

Increase in exhibitors and participating countries

Over 500 exhibitors from 23 countries across the world will participate in the 2018 expo.

This is an increase from previous trade fairs when participating countries have varied between 17 and 19.

Ruzibiza, however, said that PSF remains limited by the inadequacy of space at Gikondo Expo Ground. To address this, he said, they are working to having new grounds at Gahanga in Kicukiro District.

"We hope that in the next 2-3 years we’ll have moved to the new location in Gahanga where we’ll be able to host more exhibitors,” he said.

Bench marking by visiting delegations

The exhibition will be attended by representatives of the private sector federations from Congo-Brazzaville, Angola and Gambia with an aim to learn best practises.

The visiting delegations will, among other things, seek to learn and replicate best practices from the exhibition.

The exhibition is organised by the Private Sector Federation and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MINICOM).

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