The much anticipated Swaziland International Trade Fair (SITF) officially begins this weekend. The annual event is expected to attract 30 000 visitors over the ten-day period beginning on Friday, August 31 to Monday, September 10, 2012. A 100% stall occupancy rate has already been attained, according to Sibusiso Mnisi, Trade Fair Manager. His Majesty King Mswati III and Her Majesty the Indlovukazi are expected to grace the official opening ceremony slated for Saturday, September 1. The SITF will be a hive of activity and children and adults have been fully catered for. The popular Gospel Sunday will be held on September 2 while on September 3, the SITF will host a family fun day. Mnisi explained that the new National Brand: Swaziland - Africa’s New Promise will also be showcased to create awareness around the brand. “The brand will host a Cocktail where people in the various sectors will be invited and educated on the national brand, its objectives and how it can be marketed in and outside of Swaziland,” he said. Local and international business people have, over the years, used the SITF as a platform to interact with their clients and this year is no exception as Government Ministries and Departments as well as private companies will occupy all the stands in the pavilions. The Ministry of ICT will occupy Pavilion 5, where different stakeholders in the ICT Sector, have come together to showcase growth in the sector. Exhibitors in Pavilion 5 include the Swaziland National Library Services (SNLS), the Swaziland National Archives (SNA), the Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Services (SBIS), the Royal Science and Technology Park (RSTP), Limkokwing University, UNISWA’s Computer Science and Journalism and Mass Communication Departments, Swazi TV, Central Statistical Office, the Ministry of Education’s ICT Inspectorate as well as Countless Concepts, a local enterprise that helped with the design of the pavilion’s logo.
See www.sitf.biz for the programme of the SITF 2012