Sunday, February 9, 2025

ITEX and FOBEX to hold joint exhibition this year

Fairground Holdings will this year combine the Information Technology (ITEX) and the Food & Beverages Exhibitions (FOBEX) to run from June 21 – 23 at the Botswana Conference and Exhibition Centre (BCEC).

The previous years saw the popularity of the two exhibitions plateau hence, as a strategy to rejuvenate their growth, organisers saw it fit to combine the exhibitions. “This is done so as to reduce the costs at the same time command value for money for exhibition and visitors,” said a statement issued by Fairgrounds Holdings.

The three-day fusion of bytes and bites is a strategy to boost the magnitude of the exhibition at the same time harnessing the synergies between the two industries. The strategy has proved to be effective as the number of exhibitors’ participation this year had risen buoyed by a strong market. This is predicted to experience good growth figures in the foreseeable future due to the surplus budget announced in 2007.

The statement said the multidimensional exhibition will reflect the emerging trends in the food and IT industry. It is expected to attract qualified and quality visitors who will be gathering market information and technology updates, meeting with suppliers and buyers, sourcing for products and services as well as establishing new distribution channels and agents, and placing orders.

This year, the exhibition is divided into thematic sections for easy navigation by visitors. ITEX has over the years evolved to be the country’s premier Information Communication Technology (ICT) event. “ITEX did not only propagate the national vision but advocated for Botswana to use ICT as an ‘enabler’ in pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals,” said the release.

Last year’s theme for ITEX was: Networking the Economy, Bringing the
World Closer’, a recognition that in today’s world order, core national assets of competitiveness are found in research and development. “There are also found in intellectual property, core competence and other knowledge resources,” the statement said.

On the other hand, FOBEX is the sole winter food and beverages exhibition in the country that boasts perennial support from organizations that are in the industry. This year’s theme for FOBEX is ‘Food and Beverage: A Key Service Partner in Tourism Development’, demonstrating that food is integrated in the tradition and culture of people.
Fairground Holdings is inviting international, regional and local exhibitors to come and establish their presence in the market, attract new business contacts, get local agents, monitor activities of competitors, launch new products and support existing groups.

RELATED STORIES

Read this week's paper