Yemisi Izuora
The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry has introduced online registration for exhibitors at the forthcoming 2018 Lagos International Trade Fair to eliminate the rowdiness associated with allocation of spaces on the day the fair commences.
It also said exhibitors would no longer be allowed to bring in loudspeakers or construct dance stages in order to minimise noise on the premises.
The Vice-President, LCCI, and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, Mr Gabriel Idahosa, made the disclosure when he led some officials of the chamber on a visit to the Punch Place, headquarters of Punch Nigeria Limited, in Ogun State, recently.
He stated that the fair, which is the 32nd edition and scheduled to hold between November 2 and 11, 2018, would witness participation from exhibitors from many countries.
Idahosa said, “From this year, the trade fair will be different in some ways. Space booking is online and it’s just as fast as booking airline ticket. Exhibitors should go to the website; the entire map of the trade fair area is there and it’s been marked in three metres by three metres, so people can book, pay and print their receipts and identity cards, which also indicate the space they chose. Those who can’t use the computer can come to the office; we have officials who will help them out.
“Also, from this year on, exhibitors will no longer be allowed to bring loudspeakers into the premises and there will be no dancing stages, because the volume of noise in our trade fair is simply not compatible with a serious international trade fair, so we have to take that out.
“The other big change is the steady phasing out of wooden structures. Also, every year, we used to have a theme, but after 31 years, we feel it’s high time we had a brand identity and so, we have adopted ‘Connecting Businesses, Creating Values’ as our permanent brand identity, because the fair is about connecting local and foreign businesses and helping people to create values.”