By Tejiri Ebikeme

DELTA State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chris Ekiyor today inaugurated the 2015 Delta State Trade Exhibition Steering Committee, with a charge imploring members to shop for N50 Million in order to meet the set goal of the Exhibition.

(L-R): Delta State Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr. Chris Ekiyor inaugurating the Steering Committee of the 2015 Delta State Trade Exhibition in Osubi, with him are Simon A. Asite, President of DACCIMA, and Mrs. Patricia Idiakhoa, Chairman of the Committee,

Inaugurating the 39-Member Steering Committee at the Permanent Trade Fair Complex, Osubi in Okpe Local Government Area of the state, the Commissioner revealed that the Trade Fair Consultant- Crown Media Limited put the estimate of the 2015 Delta State Trade Fair Exhibition at about N25 Million.

But he said this amount was too small and urged members to shop for N50 Million for a successful outing.

The Commissioner said: “We must be radically minded in order to deliver on the Trade Fair Exhibition. The Consultant estimated N25 Million for the Exhibition, but this to me is too small, we should go out there to shop for N50 Million for the Exhibition taking place in the next 40 days.”

While urging members of the Steering Committee to take their assignment as a challenge to source for business for the Exhibition, the Commissioner added that “each member of the Committee should rake in not less than N1 Million and we must hit the ground running now.”

Dr. Ekiyor assured that the Ministry would give the necessary support to achieve the set goal.

“We must not fail to deliver. You people should work hard as I am not associated with failure. We must do things differently this time around,” he stated.

The Chairman of the Steering Committee, Mrs. Patricia Idiakhoa expressed gratitude to the Commissioner for the opportunity given to them to serve, saying that “We cannot afford to fail. We will deliver. We are going out there to meet investors to participate fully in the Delta State Trade Exhibition.”

President of Delta Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (DACCIMA), Simon A. Asite, harped on the need for diversification of the economy, urging investors to come and participate fully in the forthcoming Trade Exhibition.

The Committee has a Director in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Mr. Elvis E. Tietie as Secretary.