The Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair (OATF) preparatory committee is ready for this year's 25th edition of the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair.
The event will be held under the theme 'Resilient'. Inclusive and sustainable economy.
This year's exhibition show takes place from the 21st to the 29th of August, and it will be officially opened by President Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah on 23 August.
This year's trade fair is expected to be bigger and better, and thus far it has attracted 475 exhibitors, 36 of them international and nine from African countries.
About 1800 applications were received this year, but only 475 were taken, an indication that there is an urgent need to expand in terms of infrastructure and construction of new exhibition halls to accommodate more exhibitors who keep on showing interest in exhibiting at the Ongwediva trade fair.
The chairperson of the Ongwediva Trade Fair Society said, "We are calling for stakeholders, government included. We are saying that OATF is a national mandate and is a national event just because Ongwediva T.C. is spearheading it. It doesn't mean that they should be left alone, so we are calling each and every one so that we can advance this platform."
The setup of exhibition stalls has begun already, and they are about to be completed in the Queen and King Kauluma Halls.
Demarcation of stalls will be completed by the 17th of August to enable exhibitors to move in on the 19th and 20th of August.
"We started a long time ago we are in the last phases of preparations in terms of exhibitors, access to OATF we are still continuing with our biometric entry access which we have already started since the 1st of August and we are hoping to complete this biometric access registration for exhibitors by the 19th of August."
Hidulika says each year OATF improves on its safety and security for smooth exhibition; they added new CCTV cameras for tight security at the ground.
"And together with NamPol as of last year, we have a 24-hour satellite police station stationed at Ongwediva trade fair ground, and it is the same arrangement as this year. In total, we have employed about 114 security guards, which is about 15 more security guards compared to last year."
Some of the events expected to be celebrated at the 25th year's exhibition excellence includes half marathon taking place on 22 August and firework on the evening of the same day.