Benguela, Angola, 12 May – One hundred and twenty six companies, including Angolan and foreign companies, will attend the 1st edition of the Benguela International Fair (FIB), which will be held from 13 to 17 of May, at the Ombaka National Stadium, said the managing director of Eventos Arena, the event’s organiser, Manuel Novais.

According to Angolan news agency Angop, Novais said that FIB had an exhibition area of 5,000 square metres and that the number of companies signed up had exceeded the organiser’s expectations, as it had expected 100 exhibitors.

Novais said that 60 percent of the companies that had signed up were headquartered in Benguela and Lobito and the remainder were from Luanda and Huíla, as well as from abroad.

According to Novais, the companies taking part in are from the agriculture, agri-livestock, fishing, food and drink, automotive, clothing and footwear, ceramics, general retail, construction, consulting, cosmetics and beauty, education, training, culture, energy, oil, banking, finance, advertising, marketing and graphics sectors.

He said that the hotel, tourism, furniture, manufacturing industry, jewellery, logistics transport, machinery, equipment, metal-mechanics, decor, security, telecommunications, tobacco, textile and clothing sectors would also be represented.

“The fair aims to demonstrate to businesspeople the importance of attracting national and foreign investment that is able to support the development of the Benguela and Lobito region and contribute to its growth,” he noted.

He said that from his point of view Benguela province had seen significant growth in its trade, re-launch of its industrial sector, in the agri-livestock sector, services, banking, telecommunications, construction and tourism. (macauhub)