By STANLEY NWANOSIKE

Exhibitors at the just concluded 35th Enugu International Trade Fair, who came to showcase their goods, services and ideas, have said that the fair was a success, as it was hitch-free.

A cross section of the over 102 exhibitors, among them were over 50 private companies and over 45 federal and state government ministries, agencies and departments, applauded the Enugu Chamber of Commerce for good organisation.

They also praised God for the friendly weather throughout the 11 days fair as well as the Nigeria Police for a water-tight security,

However, while exhibitors dealing in services and ideas noted that it was the best fair in recent times; their counterparts in the goods product complained that many shoppers were unable to buy goods like the previous fairs.

Reacting, Mr Friday Akoma, the State Postal Manager of Nigerian Postal Service (NIPOST), Enugu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the number of guests at their stand were way more than they used to witness in previous fairs.

Akoma noted that the unprecedented number had made it possible for greater NIPOST services awareness as well as getting more courier/logistic companies to do their registration and licensing at the fair.

Mr Izuka Onyeani, a sales representative of Moniepoint, said that his financial technologycompany registered hundreds of new customers at the fair, adding that the fair helped to boost the customer-base of the company.

A lot of people also partnered with us in the Point of Sale (POS) service business,in order to serve their immediate neighbourhood and communities with banking services, Onyeani said.

Mr Ozo Abba, who sells electric automated charcoal stove, noted that most of the shoppers who visited his stand commended the initiative of the product.

He, however, noted that only very few of them bought the stove, complaining of lack of money to buy.

Everything else worked well but the sale is quite low compared with previous years at this fair.

Speaking to NAN, the President of the Chamber, Chief Odeiga Jideonwo, applauded Enugu State for its tremendous contribution to the fair, which made it a huge success.

Gov. Peter Mbah of Enugu State took all our demands from the state government personal.

Within a few weeks, the state government constructed over two kilometers internal road at the fair ground, provided a gigantic air-conditioned tent and approved for exhibitors from its ministries, agencies and departments to fully utilize the spaces.

Dangote Group and Moniepoint did exceptionally well as our major sponsors. I must not fail to thank the over 100 companies, government establishments and groups who exhibited at the fair for these 11 days, Jideonwo said.

He also noted that the trade fair was successful judging by how it had been in recent past, adding that this year, the number of exhibitors and visitors multiplied.

Jideonwo said that the fair also attracted quality exhibitors within and outside the country.

We are happy with what we achieved this year, but we are not resting. We see this as a stepping stone.

We will build on the gains to better 2025 fair. We will also look at areas we did not get it right.

We will make a lot of changes in 2025, which will include improving the conducive experience of both visitors and participants by setting up more air-conditioned exhibition hall to house not less than 200 exhibitors.

The exhibition halls will also affect prices of goods because our exhibitors will pay less. It will cost them less to use the hall than to erect expensive structures like they used to erect, Jideonwo said.

NAN reports that the fair, which began on April 5 and ended on April 15, was themed: Promoting Made-in-Nigeria Products for Global Competitiveness. (NAN)