The curtains have finally dropped for the Yaounde International Trade Exhibition, Promote 2011. But as the over 1,200 exhibitors representing national and international small and medium-size enterprises that took part in the Yaounde rendezvous settle back in their respective countries and areas, the echoes of the event will undoubtedly live on and probably create impacts in their businesses.The December 3 ?? 11 Yaounde show was massively attended. Prior to the event, organisers had predicted the participation of 1,200 companies from 30 countries and 120, 000 visitors. The overall objective was to create an avenue for the exhibitors to sell their know-how
and clinch business deals that can boost their businesses and by extension the country??s socio-economic development. From simple observation, the event was a huge success. The turnout of visitors was impressive and the products as diverse as their exhibitors. Views of exhibitors and visitors randomly sampled in the exhibition village revealed general satisfaction with the organisation, population turnout and the contacts created that could result in partnership conventions between enterprises on one hand and enterprises and customers on the other. Participants told Cameroon Tribune that most of their objectives were met. They created contacts and hope they materialise into partnership agreements. Foreign exhibitors were present in their numbers with appealing products and services adapted to the country??s growth vision. According to Pierre Zumbach, President of Promote, there are no regrets. Income and expenditure levelled at FCFA 2.2 billion. Organisers see big in the future and hope to move from Yaounde International Trade Exhibition of 2011 to Yaounde International Professional Trade Fair for companies, small and medium-size enterprises and partnership hopefully in 2013 or 2014 for the fifth edition.Besides the colourful display of the various products and the dexterity with which the thousands of hostesses and exhibitors welcomed and drilled visitors, the Yaounde show equally gave the public an opportunity to ask, know and give their inputs to some of the growth-oriented companies present. This was through debates and conferences on wide-ranging themes like, ??Stakes and challenges of generating water from the Sanaga River,?? ??Financing infrastructure in the domains of water and electricity,?? ??Effects of climate change on the availability of water resources,?? ??North/South partnership and transfer of technology,?? ??What future for renewable energy in Cameroon,?? and ??Harmonising giant energy projects and preservation of the environment, case of Lom Pangar.?? As the organisers beat their chests for a job well done and exhibitors for creating profitable business contacts, analysts hold that if organisers could in future group people of a similar sector in particular areas, it would in no small way facilitate the task for visitors who suffered up and down the exhibition village to spot one company or the order.
