The Addis Abeba Chamber of Commerce & Sectorial Associations held a ceremony at the Addis Abeba Hilton Hotel on September 28, 2006 to introduce its Annual Trade Fair which will be held February 22-28, 2007.

The trade fair will be organized under the title “Networking for Successful Business” with Information Technology (IT) as the theme.

“The purpose of the meeting is to brainstorm on ideas and improve on past experiences,” said Eyesuswork Zafu, president of the AACCSA, in his opening remarks.

“We want to show the major programmes and components largely aimed to attract foreign participants and make it a forum of export promotion and networking.”

The upcoming trade fair will have an IT pavilion, symposiums, special days for potential foreign and local exhibitors and Ethiopian reflection day, dedicated to show trade and investment opportunities in Ethiopia.

“IT is a base for all development,” said Tamrat Admassu, project coordinator of the trade fair. “E-commerce services contribute a lot to efficient business practice and management, so the trade fair will be a good platform for networking businesses with the IT sector and IT companies.”

At the meeting, the Chamber discussed fair components like product and service displays, and buyer and seller meetings that could enhance the promotion of Ethiopian exports and introduce local agents to potential foreign importers.

Responding to shipping complications that occurred last year, Dawit Ethiopia, La Gare Customs Authority manager, commented during the meeting that any fair participants would be able to import needed materials based on the Authority’s rules and regulations.

A major problem encountered last year was that most of the participants did not send a list to the Authority showing the quantity and type of products which they would like to bring in for the trade fair, he said. Items were consequently held up in customs.

Dawit suggested that new hours and work procedures would make their work easier, but especially if the participants send a detailed list itemising materials for promotional and display purposes as early as possible.

He said that the Authority recently started to implement 16 hour days and plans to launch 24 hour service soon.

Roberto Iacona, owner of Iacona Engineering, suggested that as one of the problems encountered last year was lack of space, he felt the organizers should consider using open space on the Meskel Square to display trucks and other outdoor activities.

Tamrat replied that as Meskel Square is outside the exhibition centre compound, they would have to talk with the relevant authorities to inquire about the suggestion.

During last year’s trade fair, 125 companies from 27 countries participated. For this year’s eleventh instalment of the fair, organizers are expecting to host companies from 30 countries.