Okakarara ready for 3rd trade fair

THE third annual Okakarara Trade Fair, from Wednesday to Sunday, promises to be bigger and better than ever before.

‘This event now ranks third in terms of size to the Windhoek Show and the Ongwediva Trade Fair on Namibia’s annual business calendar,’ said Okakarara Trade Fair Chairman Roger Kambatuku. Between supervising last-minute arrangements and taking calls from exhibitors seeking space to showcase their goods or services, Kambatuku found time to brief the Okakarara Constituency Regional Councillor, Vetaruhe Kandorozu, on the progress and to take him on a tour of the exhibition ground. The fair will be opened by Trade and Industry Minister Hage Geingob on Friday. Other high-ranking public officials, captains of business and members of the diplomatic corps are expected to attend the official opening. As part of an enterprise and entrepreneurial development and investment promotion strategy, a seminar has been arranged for Friday. Presentations will be made by Development Bank of Namibia (DBN), Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Ministry of Trade and Industry, among others. For the third year in a row, the venue will be the Okakarara Community, Cultural and Tourism Centre (OCCTC), a facility that was built with funding from the government of Germany. To accommodate the ever-increasing number of exhibitors and visitors, Kambatuku said, the permanent exhibition centre at the site will be used, but two marquees will also be erected. Exhibitors engaged in the selling of agricultural equipment and vehicles will occupy open stands around the fairgrounds. According to Kambatuku, the Pupkewitz Group and Namibia Motors are first-time exhibitors and will be showcasing a range of motor vehicles. ‘Entertainment and food stalls are again an important part of the event,’ said Kambatuku. A beauty pageant forms part of the programme, and local cultural groups, bands and artists will provide non-stop entertainment. Livestock is important in a traditional farming community like Okakarara and this year the trade fair again incorporates an agricultural component, including an auction of animals.To cope with the anticipated increased number of entries, additional pens have been erected for livestock. Okakarara Regional Councillor Vetaruhe Kandorozu praised Kambatuku and his team, saying it is evident that they have worked tirelessly to ensure that Okakarara Trade Fair 2009 is indeed bigger and better than in previous years.