INDUTECH 2005, so far so good - organisers

Accra, March 9, GNA - Barely a week into this year's Industry and Technology (INDUTECH) Exhibition at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre, organisers say commendable successes have been achieved as exhibitors have now settled for brisk business.

Mr Cletus Kosiba, Exhibition Director told journalists that the exhibitors, both local and foreign were gradually accepting that their objectives and aspirations were being satisfied through the establishments of business contacts.

The two-week Exhibition being organised by the Association of Ghana Industries on the theme: "Transforming Ghana's Industrial Sector through Information and Communication Technology, opened on March 3, 2005. Over 5,000 domestic and foreign exhibitors are participating. Mr Kosiba said some exhibitors however had expressed misgivings about the level of patronage and low sales.

He advised the exhibitors to exercise some proactive response by putting in the requisite measures to market themselves and attract customers.

Some of the exhibitors told the Ghana News Agency that this year's INDUTECH appeared to be like a grand sale with entertainment shows. They said products of a number of exhibitors clearly defeated the essence of an exhibition, as their ultimate objective was to make sales. Mrs Lydia Ofori, an exhibitor said, "In fact this is not an exhibition. With all these loud music all over the place, I don't think we are serious if we really know what exhibitions are".

Another exhibitor, who pleaded anonymity said, "I think this year's INDUTECH is a fiasco. Where are the technologies around or the Information Communication and Technology, because as far as I'm concern we have seen nothing new this time".