PRESS CONFERENCE
9 JULY 2014

LAUNCH OF THE 2014 SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR BY THE HONOURABLE MINISTER FOR COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND TRADE HON. GIDEON DLAMINI

 

 

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT, THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE, INDUSTRY AND TRADE I TAKE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EXTEND OUR GRATITUDE AND APPRECIATION TO ALL PRIVATE SECTOR SPONSORS AND STAKEHOLDERS WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE SUCCESS OF LAST YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR. THE 2013 INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR CONTINUED TO RECORD AN UPWARD TREND INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF EXHIBITORS AS WELL AS VISITORS.  THIS IS DEMONSTRATION OF THE IMPORTANCE OUR BUSINESS COMMUNITY ATTACHES TO THE TRADE FAIR AS AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE AND MARKET THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES. I WISH RECOGNIZE THE ROLE OF MEDIA HOUSES IN PUBLICIZING PAST TRADE FAIRS TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THIS YEAR’S THEME HAS BEEN TITLED “DEVELOPMENT UNUSUAL – INTEGRATING BUSINESSES INTO VISION 2022”. THE THEME IS IN LINE WITH THE NATIONAL INITIATIVE BY HIS MAJESTY KING MSWATI III TO TAKE SWAZILAND TO THE FIRST WORLD STATUS BY 2022. AS THE MINISTRY RESPONSIBLE FOR BUSINESS PROMOTION AND DEVELOPMENT WE HAVE DEEMED IT FIT TO ADOPT SUCH A THEME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE JOURNEY TOWARDS THE FIRST WORLD STATUS TO EMBRACE ALL BUSINESSES IN REALISING GOVERNMENT’S TARGETS. TO THIS END, A MARQUEE WILL BE PROVIDED FOR HANDCRAFT PRODUCERS AT NO COST AS MEANS TO EXPAND MARKET OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE INFORMAL SECTOR TO INCREASE THEIR SALES. STAKEHOLDERS SUCH AS SEDCO, SWIFT AND HANDCRAFT SECTION IN THE MINISTRY WILL PLAY A CRUCIAL ROLE IN IDENTIFYING HANDCRAFT PRODUCERS TO EXHIBIT AT THE TRADE FAIR.

AS IN PREVIOUS YEARS, THE TRADE FAIR WILL FEATURE BUSINESS SEMINARS, SLOTS ON THE PROMOTION OF BUSINESS/PRODUCTS, BUSINESS MATCHMAKING PLATFORMS, GAMES, COMPETITIONS, ENTERTAINMENT. ALL THESE ACTIVITIES ARE ALL GEARED TOWARDS ENSURING THAT EXHIBITORS GET VALUE FOR MONEY AND ENHANCE THEIR BUSINESSES. I WISH TO CALL UPON THE PRIVATE SECTOR TO ONCE AGAIN TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS FORUM TO SHOWCASE THEIR PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, EXCHANGE VIEWS AND BOOST SALES.

LET ME ALSO HIGHLIGHT THAT GOVERNMENT TOOK A DECISION TO TRANSFER THE TRADE PROMOTION FROM THE MINISTRY TO SIPA SO THAT PROMOTION OF INVESTMENT AND TRADE TAKES PLACE UNDER ONE ROOF. AS A RESULT, THIS YEAR’S TRADE FAIR WILL BE ORGANISED BY SIPA. AS PART OF THIS NEW MANDATE, SIPA WILL BE HOSTING MORE SPECIALISED TRADE FAIRS, CONSUMER FAIRS AND EXHIBITIONS COVERING DIFFERENT SECTORS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. I FURTHER REQUEST SIPA TO ENSURE THAT NECESSARY CONSULTATIONS WITH RELEVANT TAKE PLACE DURING PREPARATIONS OF THE TRADE FAIR.

IT IS ENCOURAGING TO NOTE THAT THERE IS POSITIVE RESPONSE FROM PRIVATE SECTOR COMPANIES AS OCCUPANCY RATE STAND AT MORE THAN FIFTY PERCENT. I AM ALSO PLEASED THAT INVITATIONS TO OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN SENT OUT AND I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT WE SHALL SOON BE RECEIVING CONFIRMATIONS. I WISH TO APPEAL ONCE AGAIN TO ALL OUR SPONSORS AND STAKEHOLDERS TO SUPPORT THIS YEAR’S INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR AS WE MOVE TOWARDS ACHIEVING VISION 2022.

IN CONCLUSION, IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO LAUNCH THIS YEAR’S SWAZILAND INTERNATIONAL TRADE FAIR UNDER THE THEME “DEVELOPMENT UNUSUAL – INTEGRATING BUSINESSES INTO VISION 2022.