The Nairobi International Trade Fair, commonly only referred to as the Nairobi Show has been running for decades attracting various exhibitors local and international. The showpiece has been the to-go-place for both lovers of agriculture as well as trade.
In the 80s and 90s, the NITF was a premier show where companies competed to showcase the best in agricultural development and sprinkled with flair from both military and civil entertainers. Trade was at the centre of the show organized by the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK).
Now, the week long event organizers have had to plead for more show goers to appease a troop of local and international exhibitors who have not been able to get as much visitors as they would like.
Loads of both primary and secondary schools students are the main visitors which rarely translates to good business for exhibitors.
Nairobi governor Mike Sonko, noting that agriculture is a county function, has been vocal in urging the public to pay the trade fair a visit. While opening the trade fair, Sonko said the NITF should remain central to his agenda of providing safe and quality food to Nairobians.
President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to visit the show and the highlight will be on the bulls auction. Lat year, when president Kenyatta visited the show, he went head to head with the Nairobi governor in bidding to buy the winning bull. The president managed to win the bid and purchased a 700 kilogram bull at Ksh 1.2 million.
ASK is however upbeat that the event is still popular both among visitors as well as exhibitors. ” International exhibitions sections refer to our exhibition halls where foreign companies are housed during the Trade Fair. Over eighty (80) companies from the following countries have participated at our annual Trade Fair each year in the last 2 years: Egypt, China, Ethiopia, Burundi, Botswana, Belgium, Chile, Eritrea, Hungary, Germany, India, Iran, Mozambique, Nigeria, Romania, Tanzania, Sudan, Seychelles, South Africa, Switzerland, Yemen, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, Canada, Turkey, U.S.A and Uganda,” a statement at the ASK website reads.
