Africa-Press – Cape verde. The leader of Cape Verdean Sotavento businesspeople today asked for “State intervention”, with equipment and new space, to hold “with more dignity” the largest business fair in the country, which takes place this month, in Praia.
“The dynamics of the fairs have always been growing since the first hour. And we have proven that it is increasingly necessary for State intervention to create objective conditions so that we can (…) hold this event with great dignity”, asked Marcos Rodrigues, in the presentation of the 26th edition of the Fair Cape Verde International (FIC), which takes place from the 15th to the 18th of November, in the city of Praia.
According to the president of the Sotavento Chamber of Commerce, these conditions would be in terms of equipment, but also new spaces for holding the event, which takes place alternately in Praia and Mindelo, on the island of São Vicente.
“ A country that has a strategy to place itself in a global positioning for its development, must have a suitable space for the development of its activity ”, declared the businessman, explaining that the space currently used in Praia is a hangar, which does not have the sufficient conditions.
Marcos Rodrigues recalled that the Cape Verdean Prime Minister, Ulisses Correia e Silva, has already made several communications to resolve the issue of equipment and noted that there is increasing interest from international companies in exhibiting at the event.
“ In this edition, in a short time, we sold out all the space. Which means that if we had more space we would have more presence and more companies to exhibit ”, continued the business leader.
According to data presented at the press conference by FIC administrator, Angélica Fortes, this year’s edition will feature 210 stands and 110 exhibitors, of which 73% from Cape Verde, 22% from Portugal and the remainder from France, Brazil and the United States .
Unlike previous editions, this year there are no companies from other African countries, at a time when the country is talking about insertion on the continent, but the administrator explained that, for many, it is a matter of strategy, as they prefer to be at fairs sectors.
The president of the Chamber of Commerce stated that the country is seeking to bring African companies closer together, but that the difficulties in being present at international fairs is not a problem exclusive to Cape Verde, but also affects the countries of the Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS) and those of the Community of Portuguese Speaking Countries (CPLP).
With 26 editions, the administrator said that FIC is already the “ weapon of the Cape Verdean business community”, taking place this year under the motto “Transforming difficulties into challenges” and with a focus on economic recovery.
In addition to the exhibitions, the fair will feature several conferences, meetings, business and public visits. The Week with Lusa
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