By Franklin Alli  & Naomi Uzor

Enugu Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ECCIMA) said it has adjusted the date for the 26th edition of its international trade fair in the state, in line with the postponement of February elections by the Independent Electoral Commission, INEC.

Dr. Ifeanyi Okoye, the President of ECCIMA, told Vanguard, yesterday in Lagos that this year’s fair, which has the theme ‘Engendering the nation’s business climate for enhanced industrialisation, investment inflow and employment generation, initially scheduled to hold from March 27 through April 7, but due to the new election dates would now hold from 13th-23rd of March 2015.

“Due to the announcement by the INEC Chairman, we have to move it backward because if we go towards the end of April we will be entering rainy season and that would somehow disturb the fair. We are aware of the current focus on political campaigns and scheduled elections and we have strategically designed our action plan for the fair so that the current campaign and upcoming elections would not affect it in a negative way.

“We are very much concerned on the issue of deepening our democracy as we are also aware that it is only with a thriving economy and a free enterprise that our democracy would be well sustained. We wish to reassure all stakeholders particularly exhibitors and visitors to the fair that adequate arrangement has been made to ensure a hitch free and successful fair notwithstanding the adjustments made in the date for the hosting of the fair,” he said.