Exhibitors from 15 countries have confirmed participation in this year’s International Trade Fair (Expo 2011) scheduled to take place from July 28 to August 10.

The 14th edition of the annual event will be held at the Gikondo Expo Ground in Kicukiro District, Kigali.

In an interview with The New Times yesterday, Ephraim Karangwa, the Director of Investment and special projects at the Private Sector Federation (PSF) said that over 400 exhibitors from foreign countries are expected to take part.

"The expo this year will be bigger than the previous ones in terms of attendance and we have a large number of exhibitors from foreign countries who have shown interest, and most of them have already confirmed,” Karangwa said.

He noted that majority of the foreign exhibitors are from large companies compared to the previous years.
  
Karangwa pointed out 444 foreign exhibitors participated in the event last year.

He noted that PSF has injected Rwf 280 million into the expo, adding that almost all the 650 stands at the ground have been booked for by foreign and local exhibitors.

"The exhibition is an opportunity for the business community, especially local companies, to market their products and share expertise and experiences with their colleagues from around the globe,” Karangwa added.

Kigali residents interviewed by The New Times said that government should have incentives to ensure that the products are sold at the expo at reasonable prices.

"We call upon the government to make sure that the exhibitors sell their products at relatively fair prices because this will work as a tool for the expo to attract more people,” said Christine Mukamurigo from Nyarugenge district.

Karangwa said that last year, 15,000 people visited the exhibition daily, saying that he was optimistic this year’s event will attract more people since PSF has carried out extensive advertisements across the country.

"This expo will enable us business people in the country to acquire new technology transfer in our respective business activities,” said David Mugira, a businessman in Remera sector.

The Director General of Investment and Trade in the Ministry of Trade and Industry Kaliza Karuretwa,  said that this year’s expo will even be more successful, owing to the awareness that has been created.

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