WESTERN PROVINCE

RUSIZI — Traders should always participate in exhibitions as a way of being exposed to a wide range of competitive skills and experiences.

Edward Nkurayija, the Executive Secretary of the Western Province, made the remarks while opening a min exposition for the province on Wednesday.

The five-day event being held at Cyangugu Regional Stadium in Kamembe sector, Rusizi district was organized by Private sector Federation (PSF) in collaboration with Western Province.

Nkurayija said that trade fairs also work as a ground for business men and women to show case their different products to the buyers.

"In order to succeed and to be business oriented I urge everybody who is here especially traders to always participate in all expositions because this helps you to get new skills and experiences  from each other which would enable you to compete on the local and international market,” Nkurayija said.

He also asked producers to always aim at producing quality products and to collaborate in their various daily activities. All this, he said calls for hardwork in order overcome poverty.

Prisca Mujawayezu, the deputy Secretary General of PSF applauded the province and the government in general for supporting the Expo to take place. She also urged the provincial leaders to consider making the event annually.

Over 150 participants drawn from all the districts in province were expected to attend, according to Bernardin Shema, an official of Business Development Services working under the PSF.

The western districts include Ngororero, Rubavu, Nyabihu, Karongi, Rutsiro and Nyamasheke. Shema said that traders from the neighbouring countries of Kenya and Burundi were expected.

"This expo would be highly attended as compared to the previous expos we have ever had because we expect to get over 150 traders just from this province. And we even expect to get other new participants from our neighboring countries of Kenya and Burundi,” Shema told The New Times.

The opening ceremony was attended by all district vice mayors in charge of social affairs in the province and several government officials. This is the second expo to take place in the Western Province since 2005.       

Ends