Despite the economic effects of Covid-19 on the incomes of people, organisers of the 2020 Rwanda International Trade Fair (Expo2020) are hoping to have good turn up in the upcoming edition. This year’s edition will be taking place in December and according to the Private Sector Federation (PSF), the organisers of the annual expo, they will be looking forward to tapping into festive season shoppers. Taking place at the Expo Grounds in Gikondo – Kigali, this year’s edition of the event was postponed from the usual July-August dates on which it used to take place to December 11-31 due to Covid-19. As the event is drawing closer, PSF has expressed optimism that though this might be a tough season economically, yet exhibitors will make good sales because “the festive season is a time to buy.” “We believe that they (people) will buy and the exhibitors will make sales,” said Theoneste Ntagengerwa the spokesperson of the PSF in an interview with The New Times. He said that like has been the norm, this year’s edition will be attended by both local and foreign exhibitors, and over 70 percent of exhibitors have already booked space in the expo. Besides exhibitor from Rwanda, countries like Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Tanzania, among others will be represented. Altogether, it is estimated that about 400 exhibitors will turn up for the event that will feature commodities including foodstuffs, home equipment, industrial equipment, and apparel. Ntagengerwa told The New Times that they also expect participants from countries like Benin, Madagascar, Ethiopia, and Turkey. Expo 2020 will be held under Covid-19 preventive measures where among other things the organisers have expanded the size of the walking spaces in the Expo Grounds, as well as enlarging the entrance and exits so that there will be less physical contact among the participants. Payment of entrance fees will be done using cashless means only, in addition to the usual protective measures like mask-wearing, and handwashing. PSF says Expo 2020 will give business people the opportunity not just for making sales, but also for exhibiting new products which might not have had exposure due to the challenges of the Covic-19 pandemic.
