The Patron of the Rundu Annual Trade Fair, Minister John Mutorwa, has called on SMEs to be innovative and exchange expertise to grow their business ventures.

Mutorwa officiated at the official opening of the 2022 Rundu Annual Trade Fair.

SMEs, Mutorwa said, contribute greatly to any town's socio-economic development, hence, the Rundu Expo is a fertile ground for the exchange of ideas.

Mutorwa believes the trade fair is the best platform for local entrepreneurs to showcase their products and services.

"Your chosen theme is 100% in line with or compatible with our president's declaration of 2022 as the Year of Reimaging; the theme is calling upon us all and urging us all to deeply reflect on the socio-economic effects of COVID-19, today, tomorrow, and in the most distant future. What is it that the community of the beautiful town of Rundu must do individually and collectively to rebuild the socio-economic, educational, spiritual, and cultural aspects of our lives and wellbeing?"

On his part, Namibia Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairperson Geraldoh Illarius says Namibian entrepreneurs need more exposure to showcase their products.

Illarius bemoaned a lack of shelf space for local products, which he said is hindering local entrepreneurs' value-addition efforts.

"If you are an innovator, manufacturer, or producer, the struggle is not over yet despite the demand. The real hustle starts to find shops that will stock your products so that this innovator, manufacturer, or producer has to start their shops to sell their products to a certain extent, they abandon the value addition component that the country so desperately needs."

He said small business owners could not afford expensive shops in mega shopping malls across the country where their products could be more visible.

At least one-hundred and 36 exhibitors are participating at the expo, including corporate, government ministries and institutions of high learning.