Exhibitors give thumbs up to 2013 BNTF

PINI BOTHOKO
Correspondent | Monday June 3, 2013 00:00

Exhibitors said this on the first day of business last Thursday during the judgement of stalls.This year's theme was, 'Unlocking opportunities to a successful participation in the economy of Botswana' under the objectives, to create awareness of products/services, networking and opportunities for partnership and selling of products and services.

When interviewed, this year's trade fair exhibitors told this publication that 2013 is better as compared to the past years.Mpho Jonathan of Mphorium Investments, specialists in indoor and outdoor events and wedding decorations said she has exhibited at BNTF for the past four years and that there has been a vast improvement in relation to the preparation, display of stalls and cleanliness.

'This year's event is well organised, it is clean and the management of BOCCIM have been cooperative, showing us to our stalls with respect. There is no dust as compared to last year, they have poured gravel and water on the road to calm the dust and stalls are well situated,'  she said.Elizabeth Kenewendo of Sadi Investment based in Sowa who has been exhibiting at BNTF since 2006, said this year trade is well organised and clean.

'I am dealing in bedding ware and in 2006 and 2009, every time I knocked off my bedding, especially white sheets would be dirty due to dust produced by movement of cars. This year there is gravel along the road, stalls are well displayed, and you can see that these people took time to organise for the event,'  she said. Kenewendo explained that she did not want to be part of trade fair anymore but after she heard that this year the fair has been improved she decided to come back after a four-year break.

When asked about this year's trade fair, BOCCIM's Acting Head of Public Affairs, Marketing and Communications,Vincent Mogojwa said this year they have had an increase of nine percent of exhibitors from last year. 'This year we have 192 exhibitors from less than 150 that we had last year.  We have small medium large-scale businesses, all sectors of the economy, government departments and parastatals. 'Our exhibitors were complaining of dust last year but this year we managed to pour gravel and water to reduce dust,' he said.

Mogojwa said that with the help of their sponsors they have managed to prepare for the event and attracted more exhibitors and hope they will be impressed and sell their products and services.'We are impressed with the turn up of exhibitors and anticipate that next year we will have more exhibitors because after this we will go and improve on the challenges we had.  There will be many awards; there will be prize giving and fashion shows,' declared Mogojwa.