The Benin Chamber of Commerce, Business, Mines and Agriculture (BENCCIMA) has mentioned the forthcoming Edo Commerce Truthful had been strategically positioned as an {economic} intervention platform aimed toward driving youth employment, {financial} inclusion, and personal sector development within the state.
The Second Deputy President of BENCCIMA, Dr. Jonathan Alele Oboite, disclosed this on Friday, noting that the initiative aligns with broader efforts to strengthen micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and deepen collaboration between the organised non-public sector and {financial} establishments.
He mentioned a number of banks and growth finance establishments had agreed in precept to interact straight with youths and small enterprise house owners through the honest, providing tailor-made {financial} merchandise, enterprise help companies, and employment alternatives.
“We’re utilizing this platform to bridge systemic gaps between younger entrepreneurs, producers, and {financial} establishments. For years, there was curiosity, however no coordinated construction to attach demand with alternative,” he mentioned.
Oboite, who additionally serves because the Commerce Truthful Director, mentioned the chamber deferred the occasion final yr to permit for data-driven planning, stakeholder mapping, and coverage alignment.
He mentioned this yr’s version, scheduled to start in November, is concentrated on sustainability, scalability, and measurable {economic} impression.
Oboite mentioned consultations have been held with key regulatory companies, together with the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Requirements Organisation of Nigeria, and Nationwide Company for Meals and Drug Administration and Management, to make sure that merchandise showcased on the honest meet nationwide requirements.
The commerce honest director mentioned the initiative additionally seeks to combine essential sectors reminiscent of agriculture, manufacturing, and the inventive trade right into a unified worth chain, thereby selling native production, decreasing import dependence, and increasing non-oil income sources.
The sturdy presence of business banks, fintech corporations, and growth finance establishments at a latest stakeholders’ dinner – represented at regional management stage – underscores rising confidence in Edo’s enterprise atmosphere and the viability of the commerce honest as an funding platform, he mentioned.