From November 30 to December 18, 2022, the 17e Lomé International Fair (FIL) on the site of Togo 2000, Togolese Center for Exhibitions and Fairs of Lomé (CETEF). The Campaign for the promotion of this great fairground event was launched on Friday in Lomé by the Minister of Trade, Industry and Local Consumption, Kodjo Adédzé. Members of the government, various political, administrative and religious personalities, as well as traditional chiefs took part in this launching ceremony. An opportunity to reassure the actors of the business world of the opportunities offered by this great international crossroads of economic exchanges.
Members of government and other personalities at the launch of the 17th FIL promotional campaign
Here we go again ! After two years of hiatus, the Togolese Center for Exhibitions and Fairs of Lomé (CETEF), is once again opening its doors to host the 17e edition of the Lomé International Fair (FIL) to be held from November 30 to December 18. The event, suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic, is reborn from its ashes to restore hope of life to business in the country and of happiness to populations that have long remained resilient and are today trapped by life. Dear. Focused on the theme: Competitiveness of goods and services for post Covid-19 economic recovery », the 17e FIL will make it possible to relaunch economic activities, by giving economic operators the opportunity to contribute to the reflection on strategies for strengthening the competitiveness of local goods and services. To reassure businessmen who are just waiting for this opportunity to refine commercial strategies and accelerate preparations, the campaign for the promotion of the 2022 edition of the Lomé fair was therefore launched on Friday by the government on the Togo 2000 site. This campaign will be marked by major communications activities, ranging from the posting of billboards, audio-visual by the media, mailings, interviews on television and radio channels, awareness caravans, etc.
An opportunity to rethink resilience mechanisms
More than one thousand (1000) exhibitors and three hundred thousand visitors are expected at this competition which will take place over an area of ninety thousand (90,000) m². It will be an opportunity to promote trade in products and services from all sectors of economic activity of the countries, both in the sub-region and the rest of the world, and to increase the level of commercial activity between the countries. . In this sense, there are plans for B 2 B meetings and national days or open doors to exhibiting companies and cultural evenings for the pleasure of the fairground world. This, in addition to the exhibition, demonstration, tasting and guided tours.
By setting the tone for the promotional campaign, the Minister of Trade, Industry and Local Consumption, Kodjo Adédzé, paid a deserved tribute to the Head of State, for his leadership, his foresight and his high sense anticipation that enabled a good response to the Covid-19 pandemic. This makes it possible, today, to relaunch the 2022 edition of the FIL, which everyone hopes for. According to him, in the face of the generalized socio-economic crisis, characterized by the rise in the prices of basic necessities under the combined effect of the health crisis with its share of confinement, violent extremism and the geopolitical war which continues in Europe, it is essential to rethink the mechanisms of resilience. This will help to cope with endogenous and exogenous shocks, but also and above all, to take urgent measures to build productive capacities, processing and marketing of agricultural and extractive products, for a rapid recovery.
Economic operators
A showcase for local goods and services and those of the sub-region
Before “this triptych added to the climatic crises which have dealt a severe blow to economic and productive activities in the world, and especially in our sub-regions, seriously putting our various economies in difficulty, even those of developed countries, this 2022 edition of the fair of Lomé comes at the right time, to give hope to national and sub-regional companies “said Minister Adédzé. It is, he said, through this 17e edition, to give a breath of fresh air to companies hit hard by two years of global economic crisis. ” The FIL has proven itself for more than 20 years. It stands out as a reference in Africa, especially with the entry into force of the Continental Free Trade Area (ZLECAF) since May 31, 2019, made operational on 1is January 2021. In this context of economic crisis, it positions itself as a showcase for local goods and services and those of the West African sub-region. “, he added. To do this, the government, assured Minister Adédzé, will take steps to best meet the expectations of economic operators and potential exhibitors, in a context where digitalization remains one of the factors of competitiveness. Togolese companies and sectors of activity are encouraged to participate in this fair of all opportunities.
An event organized in strict compliance with barrier measures
For his part, the Secretary General of the Ministry of Commerce, temporarily in charge of the duties of the director of the CETEF, Comlan Yakpey, indicated that given the Covid-19 pandemic, the Lomé fair will be held in strict compliance with the measures government barriers. To do this, one of the major innovations of this 2022 edition is the digitization of the process for buying stands and entry tickets online. These innovations will make it possible to limit physical contact, in order to fight more effectively against the spread of the Coronavirus disease. To this end, the ministry encourages exhibitors and visitors to anticipate, to take the doses of vaccines necessary for the success of the organization of this fair which will contribute to boosting economic take-off.
Patouani BATCHAMLA