{"id":76341,"date":"2024-09-02T16:13:00","date_gmt":"2024-09-02T16:13:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation"},"modified":"2024-09-02T16:13:00","modified_gmt":"2024-09-02T16:13:00","slug":"oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation","title":{"rendered":"OATF 2024 bridges tradition, innovation"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"color: #ff6600\"><strong>Africa-Press &#8211; Namibia. <\/strong><\/span>The Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair has successfully concluded, drawing more than<\/p>\n<p>34 000 visitors over its nine-day run. Held under the theme \u201cBridging Tradition and Innovation,\u201d the event showcased a harmonious blend of Namibia\u2019s rich cultural heritage and cutting-edge advancements.<\/p>\n<p>With more than 400 exhibitors, the fair highlighted how traditional practices can co-exist and thrive alongside modern innovations, creating a unique platform for businesses and artisans to engage, inspire,and grow.<\/p>\n<p>Speaking to New Era, a member of the organising committee Opeipawa Shiyagaya said this year\u2019s event was a success, and years after its inception, the fair continues to grow.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have observed how all stakeholders were fully involved, and the attendance was also very positive, just how we expected,\u201d said Shiyagaya.<\/p>\n<p>With exciting displays of handcrafted goods that reflect Namibia\u2019s deep-rooted cultural traditions, to the state-of-the-art technologies presented by both local and international companies, the trade fair showcased the country\u2019s ability to honour its past, while embracing the future.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe honour the wisdom passed down through generations, while simultaneously embracing the innovations that propel us forward,\u201d said Evat<\/p>\n<p>Kandongo the deputy chairperson of the preparatory committee.<\/p>\n<p>Meanwhile, minister of industrialisation and trade Lucia Iipumbu said the theme is befitting as it comes at the dawn of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area business forum, coming up next month.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNamibia is ready to tap into a single market of about 1.3 billion people, while growing at home and industrialising the local economy to produce goods and services with which to trade,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n<p>The event was also a lively celebration where the community came together to work, play and connect.<\/p>\n<p>The fairgrounds buzzed with energy as patrons from all walks of life enjoyed the diverse offerings. From the bustling stalls of entrepreneurs selling everything from traditional food items, clothes, gadgets, to corporate giants showcasing their latest innovations and sharing valuable information, the fair provided something for everyone.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis year\u2019s trade fair was a perfect blend of tradition and modernity. I was able to share my culture and skills with visitors from all over, while also learning about new trends in the market that can help me grow my business,\u201d Penina Martin, a tailor who specialises in traditional attire, said.<\/p>\n<p>Martin has been exhibiting at the trade fair for 21 years. She recounts being one of the first vendors at the time the now-prestigious fair was budding and only had one exhibiting hall.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo decades later, the event has grown in leaps and bounds. However, although the area of trading expanded and more people attend, we are also experiencing a decline in sales as more children than elders come to the fair,\u201d she said. But the fair was more than just business. It was also a place of fun and entertainment, where family and friends gathered to enjoy music shows, sample local delicacies, and let their children explore the play areas.<\/p>\n<p>The Katutura area, known for its vibrant food and music scene, was a particularly popular spot, with visitors indulging in traditional Namibian dishes while mingling and sharing stories. \u201cI come to the trade fair every year, not just to see the exhibits, but because it\u2019s a place where the whole community comes together,\u201d said Peter Peter, a resident of Ongwediva.<\/p>\n<p>Children were also well-catered for, with numerous activities and games that kept them entertained throughout the fair. The trade fair was established in 2000.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For More News And Analysis About <a href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\">Namibia<\/a> Follow <a href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/\">Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Africa-Press &#8211; Namibia. The Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair has successfully concluded, drawing more than 34 000 visitors over its nine-day run. Held under the theme \u201cBridging Tradition and Innovation,\u201d the event showcased a harmonious blend of Namibia\u2019s rich cultural heritage and cutting-edge advancements. With more than 400 exhibitors, the fair highlighted how traditional practices can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":76340,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,3,4],"tags":[234,236,233],"class_list":["post-76341","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-community","category-culture-and-art","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-namibia","tag-namibia"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.1 (Yoast SEO v27.0) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>OATF 2024 bridges tradition, innovation - Namibia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"OATF 2024 bridges tradition, innovation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Africa-Press &#8211; Namibia. The Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair has successfully concluded, drawing more than 34 000 visitors over its nine-day run. Held under the theme \u201cBridging Tradition and Innovation,\u201d the event showcased a harmonious blend of Namibia\u2019s rich cultural heritage and cutting-edge advancements. With more than 400 exhibitors, the fair highlighted how traditional practices can [&hellip;]\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Namibia\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AfricaPressTunisiaa\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2024-09-02T16:13:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"cfeditoren\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"3 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"cfeditoren\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/#\/schema\/person\/068c7ab4e9634ae78ec5d54ec46598bb\"},\"headline\":\"OATF 2024 bridges tradition, innovation\",\"datePublished\":\"2024-09-02T16:13:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation\"},\"wordCount\":580,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/static.africa-press.net\/nambia\/sites\/29\/2024\/09\/Hazrati1725281034.800123.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"africa press\",\"Africa Press-Namibia\",\"namibia\"],\"articleSection\":[\"all news\",\"community\",\"culture and art\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/namibia\/all-news\/oatf-2024-bridges-tradition-innovation\",\"name\":\"OATF 2024 bridges tradition, innovation - 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