Chamber to focus on non-oil sectors in 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair

 

As preparations are in high gear to host the Lagos International Trade Fair 2015, the Trade Promotion Board of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has said it will focus on enhancing value addition in the non-oil sectors of the economy.

Towards this end, the LCCI has resolved to give a special focus on the creative industry, which is said to be a rapidly growing segment of the economy.

In activating this resolve, a special programme has been designed that will fully explore the business potentials of the creative industry in Nigeria as well as project it distinctively to the thousands of visitors that throng the Fair annually.

Speaking during the announcement of the International Trade Fair 2015, Michael Olawale-Cole, vice president/chairman, Trade Promotion Board, LCCI, said the LCCI had entered into partnership with the CORA Arts & Cultural Foundation, organiser of the yearly Lagos Books and Arts Festival (LABAF), to use its medium to jointly host the maiden edition of the Lagos Creative Industry Fair.

According to him, “the Creative Industry Fair will thus feature exhibitions, performances and business sessions of the entire value chain of the Nigerian creative industry and is jointly hosted by the LCCI, CORA and Freedom Park, Broad Street from November 6 to 15, 2015.”

In making this happen, stakeholders in the Nigerian creative industry have been brought to the table, which includes Performing Musician Employers Association of Nigeria (PMAN), Movies Producers Association of Nigeria, Fashion Designers Association of Nigeria (FADAN), among others, he said.

In addition to this, Olawale-Cole mentioned that another major innovation in this year’s Trade fair was the commencement of the Lagos International Trade Fair Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Fora, which will be held five days during the fair.

Other activities that will be conducted during the fair will include business-to-business corporate exhibition and investment conference.

The fair will be held simultaneously in three different venues – Tafawa Balewa Square, Onikan Lagos, the Muson Centre, Onikan Lagos, and the Freedom Park Broad Street, Lagos.