Our vision:Exporting for sustainable development
and job creation
Trade Shows and Conferences
City
and Country
Description
Date
TRADE FAIRS/SOLO
EXHIBITIONS
Zambia
Zambia International Trade Fair
27th June – 3rd July, 2007
U.K
Royal Agric Show, U.K
1st – 4th July, 2007
Niger
Solo Exhibition, Niamey,
Niger
6th – 10th Aug., 2007
China
11th China International Trade Fair for
Investment and Trade
8th – 11th Sept., 2007
South Africa
SAITEX, South Africa
10th – 13th Oct., 2007
Burkina Faso
5th ECOWAS Trade Fair, B/Faso
27th Oct – 4th Nov., 2007
India
27th India International Trade Fair
14th – 27th Nov., 2007
Dubai, UAE
Global Village Festival, Dubai, UAE,
13th Dec., 2007 – Feb., 2008
MISSIONS
Gabon
Trade Mission t to Gabon
14th – 18th May, 2007
Malaysia
Trade Mission to Malaysia
13th – 17th Aug., 2007
Cameroon
Trade Mission to Cameroon
10th – 14th Dec., 2007
CONTACT PROMOTION PROGRAMME/BUYER-SELLER MEET
Liberia
Contact Promotion Programme, Liberia,
4th – 8th June,
2007
Proper
Practice for Preparing an Exhibition
Participation
in international trade events is an excellent tool
of business prospecting. Before taking any steps
in this direction, companies are advised to
participate first in these events as visitors.
Thus, the visit allows the company to select an
appropriate exhibition stand, prepare the
strategic places and to have a general idea before
participating in it as an exhibitor. Further, one
must remember that if an exhibition stand is
providing an adequate space for finding new
clients, it is not proper over there to look for
business partners (agents, importers,
distributors) . This will require a very
systematic research within the framework of a
mission of prospecting.
Visit
of an Exhibition
Visit
to an exhibition stand is the first phase of
preparation for the exhibition. The companies
often visit the international events within the
framework of their market study in which they
update their knowledge and secure documentation.
The aim of the visit consists in informing oneself
about the trends, new technologies, novelties in
terms of new products and establishing first
contacts. The visit to an exhibition stand allows
especially to get an idea of different events and
to select the one which would be likely to be
suitable for the company's products. The visit to
an exhibition stand requires quite a serious
preparation and this is an investment from which
one must derive maximum returns. It is impossible
to visit all the stands. Hence, it is advised that
one should consult the catalogues of exhibits and
prepare the stands in the most attractive
manner.
Participation
in an Exhibition
Participation
of a company in a business event is a good means
of developing a strategy of communication on an
international scale. It is an opportunity for the
company to put to advantage all the aces in order
to attract maximum prospects that are possible on
any stand. Preparation of an exhibition stand must
not be neglected. Although the cost is high, the
spin-off is quite big (see table).
Preparation
Before
taking any steps, the company must prepare a plan
in order to manage the allotted time in the best
possible manner. One must know that the
preparation is a decisive phase because it is
during this phase that success is demonstrated or
failure is brought to light.
PLANNING
Timing
Tasks
to be accomplished
Observations
-
12 months
·
Location
of the stand
The
earlier the stand is reserved, the more the
company will benefit by obtaining strategic
location
-
11 months
·
Section
of products to be executed
The
products are to be selected according to the
targeted public
-
10 months
Study of
decoration of the stand
Hotel
reservation
The
decoration must be strictly studied as it has
direct effect on the through passage of the
visitors
Hotel
has to be reserved in advance since during
exhibition period the hotels are often fully
booked.
-
9 months
·
Design
of the stand
Preparation
of equipment to be exhibited
The
period of designing varies according to the type
of the stand. A personalised stand requires a
longer period than what is required for the
stand delivered by the
organiser.
One
must think of flood lighting of the products
exhibited and it should be adapted to the mode
of transport
-
8 months
·
Reservation
of water and power connections
(telephone fax etc)
-
7 months
·
Finalising
the policy of business promotion
The
activity in the stands accentuates the impact of
participation. Some stands stand out from other
stands , thanks to this
criterion.
-
6 months
·
Selection
of men and hostesses
Selection
of professionals
-
5 months
·
Training
of the personnel
Welcome
must be impeccable and that is why a
pre-exhibition training is often
useful.
-
4 months
·
Verification
of equipment
Reservation
for transport of equipment
Preparation
of documentation of the company (printed folder,
catalogue ect)
Reservation
for publicity in the catalogue of
exhibits.
For
transport of goods, it is advised that one
should call in the services of a forwarding
agent having experience in the matter of
exhibitions.
-
3 months
·
Reservation
of air tickets
Verification
of passports.
Preparation
of invitation cards
Invitations
are the best means of ensuring that the visitors
arrive and show fidelity
-
2 months
Application
for visas ( if necessary )
To
undergo the necessary
vaccinations
-
1 month
·
Application
for ATA card
Posting
of invitations
The
last days
Dispatch
of products
Departure
of personnel
Maintenance
of the stand
Verification
of the stand
Verification
of products
Check on
safety and security
The
period of shipping of products can be longer in
the case of distant destinations and the
management of the stand depends on the opening
of the exhibition stand to the
exhibitors.
The Cost
Organisation of an exhibition stand is a costly
operation, but it should be considered as an
investment. The expenses to be incurred are
as follows :
Expenditure on exhibition
Hiring of the stand
Registration in the catalogue of
exhibitors
Registration fees and badges
Expenditure on arrangement
Partitions, furniture,
decorations
Lighting and water supply
connection
Assembly and dismounting
Telephone, fax, etc.
Expenses incurred for cleaning
the stand
Expenditure on communication
Free invitations
Mailing expenses
Brochures and printed folders
Samples and promotional equipment
Receptions
Expenses relating to the products
Packing
Transport
Insurance
Expenditure on personnel
Transport
Lodging
Boarding
Interpreters
Follow-up Action
Once the exhibition is over, it is necessary to
draw up a balance sheet of participation in the
exhibition stand. The follow-up action relating
to the exhibition stand is of strategic
importance. It consists of sending within the
following week some documents to the visitors
and thanking them for their visit to the stand.
A good follow-up action finally allows start of
negotiations with new clients.
Subsidies for participation in the fairs
The
NEPC
provides subsidies for the promotion of
agricultural products but not on a regular
basis.
MANEG proposes to you
to
identify the trade fairs
which may be of interest to you in the countries
of your choice, and in due time.
