Recession: Low Patronage Mars Lagos Int’l Trade Fair

November 16, 2016 – Recession: Low Patronage Mars Lagos Int’l Trade Fair

The city of Lagos last week played host to foreign and local exhibitors, businesses, manufacturers, suppliers, buyers and users in this year’s Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, LCCI, International Trade fair.The trade fair, which began November 4, at the popular Tafawa Belewa Square, TBS, Lagos ended November 13.

The concept behind the fair according to the organisers, LCCI, is aimed at exhibition of goods and services, a meeting point for investors all over the world and a strategy for businesses and trade promotion. Despite a trade fair held at a recession period, the usual participation in numbers, the thrills and frills that usually characterize the event was very much felt.

The usual social networking, blaring of local and foreign music kept the commercial scene lively. But what was lacking was the patronage and purchasing power of participants. For instance, coordinator of LG electronics stand who simply gave his name as Mr. Chukwuma, lamented the very low patronage on their products.

“I want to tell you the patronage is the poorest after day six of the ongoing trade fair. People just gathered around, moved about and window shopped, but how many of them actually bought items? I paid over N2 million for a 153 Square metre but the sales recorded have not paid one fourth of that amount. Last year’s fair was far better than this year’s.