Marsabit County is set to hold its first-ever trade fair exhibition beginning next week Thursday at Marsabit stadium.

The three-day event will be officially opened by Governor Mohamud Ali on Thursday, September 14 and closed by his deputy Solomon Gubo on Saturday, September 16.

At least 100 exhibitors are expected to showcase their innovations, technologies, products and services to the public.

The theme of this year’s trade fair exhibition is “Unlocking investment opportunities and potentials in Marsabit County through value addition for food and nutritional security”.

Speaking during a stakeholders meeting on Friday at the department office, CECM Trade, Tourism and Cooperative Society Adan Hirbo said there is a need to adopt modern technologies and innovations in trade as reflected in this year’s theme of the event.

“We are appealing to entrepreneurs with innovative business ideas to take part in this year’s event which provides a favourable platform for the display of technologies and innovations to boost food security,” said Hirbo

He said the event will offer an opportunity for exhibitors to display and demonstrate their services and products.

Hirbo added that visitors will get an opportunity to meet people from different regions.

“The exhibition will create a platform for interaction and exchanging of ideas and experiences,” he said.

He expressed optimism that this year’s trade fair exhibition will serve to further unlock the critical role of micro, small and medium-sized businesses in boosting economic growth and improving livelihoods.

“This year’s trade fair exhibition will help offer solutions to the food production value chains in the county,” he said

“The department is keen to address the production and supply challenges that have for a long time hindered macro and small entrepreneurs from the export market.”

Hirbo indicated that through the trade fair exhibition, they would also market Marsabit County’s tourism sector.

“There are aspects of tourism in Marsabit county that have not been marketed and these are the ones we are seeking to market during the show to attract more visitors in the county,” he said

He said that Marsabit county has some of the most visited tourist sites including Sibiloi National Park, Marsabit National Park, Desert Museum, Koobi Fora Museum, Mount marsabit, Loiyangalani Rock Arts and South Island National Park.

Hirbo stated that they would bring on board all key tourism stakeholders to market Marsabit County domestically, Regionally and even internationally.

He said, his department will continue to market Marsabit and explore tourism with the objective of growing the socioeconomic aspects of the residents.

“We need to promote a better understanding of cultural potentials that can generate income and opportunities for the local community in a culturally and economically sustainable manner.

“The county government under the leadership of Governor Mohamud Ali has embarked on strategies to promote trade that contributes to the economic development of the county through the construction of modern market and motorbike shades and training of members of cooperative societies and promote small-scale traders.”

Marsabit is the only county with a world heritage site where the first Austrapitheas skull was discovered and it is the cradle of mankind.

Marsabit forest lies scenic craters, lakes, swamps and an array of wild animals.

According to Chief Officer Trade  Mahad Mohamed, the county government and development partners are jointly improving food security in the county through different interventions.

“The department is giving training to farmers on best farming practices and strengthening the capacity of the local community to respond to the change of climate.”

Mahad said his department focuses on the acceleration of climate resilience livelihoods in diversifying food and income sources through innovative technologies and strengthening food market and value chains.

“The event will give the county government, development partners and service providers an avenue to gauge where we are as a county in terms of production development and technological innovations.”

CIFA’s program officer Mr Hussein Walaqa said the trade fair exhibition will give opportunity to exhibitors to meet with their customers while exploring services they offered in person.

” Meeting with potential customers at an exhibition helps one to start, build marketing lists and generate qualified sales leads,” said Hussein

Health administrator Muthoni Marete said the Department of Health will provide free HIV testing and blood pressure during the trade fair exhibition.

He said they would organise blood donation during the event, urging residents to attend in large numbers and donate blood to save lives.