By Orchestra Kamanga

The Managing Director for Bantu Arts and Craft limited Edward Malunga has asked Malawi Confederation of Chamber, Commerce and Industry (MCCCI) to consider providing incentives to local exhibitors so that they should participate at a large number.

He said some of the incentives that chamber shall consider include reducing stands price during the international trade fair.

“At the moment the stands charges are high, ordinary stand is at K120, 000, inside Comesa hall is K350, 000 while VIP is K450, 000,” he said.

Malunga said reducing the price will pave way for local exhibitors who cannot afford to pay at high price to showcase their products.

He however appreciated MCCCI for well-organized the fair this year despite economic hardships the country is facing and said they need to part them at their back because they were a lot of exhibitors both local and international.

“I have also to thank our customers for supporting Bantu Arts and Crafts limited and we promise not to compromise the quality of our products,” he said, adding the price of their shoes for both men and women is K10, 000 to K30, 000 respectively.

Commenting on this year’s Trade fair Beehive Marketing Manager, Yankho Kamera said MCCCI should also introduce competition and fun to attract more patronage.

“Chamber should introduce competition like raffle draw so that people who patronize the fair should win prizes apart from buying goods at the fair. They must also bring artists like Skeffa Chimoto, Lucius Banda, Black Missionaries to woo more patronage,” he said.

Yankho Kamera said the stand at fair is not expensive or cheap but it is reasonable to exhibitors.

“Exhibitors should strategize when they want to showcase their products. Like us (beehive) we made profits, we doubled the price of the stand charges buy selling bicycles, books for adults and children and IT school books,” he said.

This year’s Trade Fair was held from May 24 to June 3rd under the theme: “Productivity a source of Export competitiveness”.