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Rwanda International Trade Fair- the country’s largest annual exhibition event- known as Expo kicked off on Friday, December 11, with a low number of visitors compared to previous editions.
The exhibition will go through December 31.
According to the Private Sector Federation (PSF), as of Friday, overall, there were 381 exhibitors who include 73 from outside Rwanda and 308 local exhibitors. The Federation said that the number is expected to increase, as more exhibitors are still registering.
Before the outbreak of Covid-19, there used to be around 500 exhibitors.
There are 12 countries participating in this year's edition, including Rwanda, and the number is less than previous years’ where between 20 and 25 countries normally participated in the event.
According to PSF, this is mainly because of travel restrictions in different countries across the world in a bid to prevent the spread of Covid-19.
Countries present include Singapore, Pakistan, India, Syria, Iran, Egypt, Benin, United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Rwanda and Ghana among others.
When The New Times paid a visit to Expo Ground in Gikondo where the exhibition is taking place, exhibitors said that there was a low turn-up on the first day.
"Clients have not yet come, we are waiting to see if there will be a change tomorrow, but so far, since morning, we are just sitting. One comes, asks and goes. They have not started buying as it used to be,” said Shabani Ahobishakiye who sells cooking utensils.
According to Moussa Bizimana who sells office furniture, there are hopes of more customers in the coming days.
He said: "There are some customers who visited our site. We are just appreciating because it is still early and it is the first day, as days go by, clients will come, there is no problem.”
Amani Uwiringiyimana who brands different stands at Expo since 2013 accredited the low turn-up to Covid-19.
"Most of the clients who used to show-up were those who came with their children, but because of Covid-19, students are now at school and those still at home are mostly below 12 years and are not allowed to come here,” he explained.
Restricting children below 12 years old from attending the event, according to PSF, is in bid to prevent the spread of Covid-19, as children in the age group can’t easily adhere to Covid-19 preventive measures.
Besides this factor, the low number of participants is also linked to the purchasing power that has been negatively affected by the pandemic as some people lost their jobs.
Though this is the case, Expo organisers are looking forward to tapping into festive season shoppers.
Covid-19 preventive measures in place
Apart from exhibitors who have cards that allow them to freely enter where Expo is being held, everyone else pays a fee of Rwf500 to access the premises.
At the entrance, there are agents of both MTN and Airtel telecommunication companies, who help visitors pay the fee using mobile phones and show the message to protocols who later give them a green light after checking at their verification codes.
For MTN users, after paying the fee, they are given a confirmation message that they tap at an electronic facility at the entrance and enter.
After that stage, there are washing stations where everyone entering the area passes to wash their hands, before temperature screening and security checking.
Police officers have been deployed at the area and they move around to supervise how Covid-19 preventive measures are being adhered to.
Some stands also have loudspeakers and screens that disseminate messages about Covid-19 preventive measures to observe.
Near the entrance, there can be seen an ambulance that is said to be used in case of a health emergency and there are health workers as well who can give patients first aid before taking them to health fac