Preparations are underway for hosting the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF), which is set to take place from August 24 to 30, and the organisers have promised a landmark event.

A total of N$5.6 million is spent annually during the week-long trade fair.

The trade fair has become a blueprint on the calendars of not only the locals but also international exhibitors. So far, 1,204 applications have been received, but only 450 were considered.

OATF Committee Chairperson Rebekka Hidulika said 26 exhibitors are from countries such as Tanzania, Japan, Kenya, Indonesia, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.

Hidulika said the fair had evolved over the years, providing opportunities for networking and maximising trade. 

"In southern Africa, looking at all the trade exhibitions that we have, the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair is actually the biggest in terms of the number of exhibitors, as well as the number of visitors, and our vision is to become the best in Africa, and we can only do that once we all work together and get more partners on board." 

She stated that this year, there will be business forums and symposiums, allowing a platform for joint ventures and market expansion.

In order to improve the environment, the council also needs to upgrade the 25-year-old ageing infrastructure.

"As much as we want to improve our infrastructure, we are so constrained to a point where we can only do minimum renovations of the halls to make sure that the exhibition halls are in a conducive environment, and we are starting to procure a contractor who will add extra ablution facilities, which is always a problem because we have many people and few ablution facilities."

This year's trade fair will be held under the theme 'Innovate, Connect and Prosper'. 

President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah is expected to open the trade fair officially on the 24th.