FetAfrik 2015 & International Trade Fair |23 May 2015

Bringing culture, tourism and business under one roof
 
For the first time in Seychelles, FetAfrik is being celebrated by promoting culture, tourism and business in collaboration with the Seychelles Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI).

FetAfrik 2015 and the Seychelles International Trade Expo 2015 were officially opened yesterday at the National Sports Council (NSC) Hall, Roche Caïman by the Minister for Finance, Trade and the Blue Economy Jean-Paul Adam.

Among guests present for the event were Vice-President Danny Faure, ministers Wallace Cosgrow, Michael Benstrong and Didier Dogley and various representatives from embassies and government institutions.

Marco Francis, chairperson of the SCCI congratulated the big number of participants at the expo from the various countries of Africa and Seychelles.

“This expo is very important as it brings awareness not only to Seychellois but also to all the African countries taking part. It also create business contact and partnership for good business deals and also allows the businessmen to meet their customers face to face as they are the kings and queens for us to survive. Today we have a stable economic growth because we have a good dialogue with the government and we need to strengthen on that. No money from tax payers or the government was used for this expo to take place and still we could see the big numbers of participants who paid their own tickets and stall. This is a good opportunity for all of us to grow our business and prosper,” noted Mr Francis.

In the absence of the Minister for Tourism and Culture Alain St Ange, Minister Adam addressed the participants in these words: “In celebrating FetAfrik, we are celebrating what it means to be a Seychellois and we celebrate our cultural expressions through art and craft exhibitions, musical and dance performances as well as culinary arts. As we celebrate Africa, we celebrate this potential which is intrinsic within the Blue Economy concept and we are proud that it is a core tenet of the African Union’s agenda 2063. On the tourism front, Seychelles has played a key role as a champion of African tourism. We have worked with the African Union to develop a first continent wide approach to developing this industry which can do so much to ensure that Africa continues to rise. In tourism, there is no time for rivalries. All of our African nations are in this together. This new common sense of identity and unity may be portal to a bright new future for the region.”
 
The ceremony ended with a performance by the Zambian national troupe and the national troupe of Seychelles.

The following are some products that might be of interest to locals and that are being sold at quite reasonable prices:

From Mauritius: Resiglas Ltd selling fibre glass swimming pools, water tanks and other fiberglass products; Engineering Services Mauritius selling their services as electrical contracting and power solution and also agricultural machineries; L’argonaute selling beach shorts, t-shirts, paintings and flower vases; Ebramjee selling burglar bars; Pacon selling mainly paper napkins; DACOM selling all sorts of soaps, perfumes and spa products; Happy Wood selling furniture for homes/hotels and villas; Cozy Sleep selling mattress and pillow protectors; Watertech selling everything related to pools and water purification; Standard Safe Aluminium selling openings and roller shutters; Amrita Dyalah Creations selling mainly tops and jewellery for women; Jo Art marketing their tourism related products such as magnets, souvenirs etc; Shash Creation selling candles and home deco; Quench collection selling women clothes; Indian Ocean Marine selling mainly Mauvillac paintings.

From India: True World Home appliances selling bangles, rings, earings, necklaces etc; Plast Care selling mainly kitchen products; Akash Overseas selling ladies footwear; Rajasthan Handloom selling handloom items and painted furniture.

From Sri Lanka: Astron Ltd marketing their pharmaceutical and nutritional products.

From Dubai: Gold link exposing the fruits and vegetables and other flour products they can export to Seychelles.

From South Africa: Iqlass Food marketing packed preheated foods; Indian Ocean Export marketing the major brands from South Africa already on sale in Seychelles; Pakco looking to have some market for its pickles, spices and condiments.

From Pakistan: SZ Enterprizes selling mainly leather items.

From Italy: FILA selling cleaning and maintenance products for tiles.

From Seychelles: SENPA Stall; HSL stall; Early Bloon; EMSBEC Atelier Deco; Exotic scents; Arc En Ciel; Antique Marine; Candlez; James Agricole; Noular Sesel; Egber Marday; Danny Sopha; Cooperative des artisans; Paul arts and souvenirs; Naturelle trading; Concept Design Supply; Anand Arts and Decart
From Ile de la Reunion: Kadiatou Kante selling ceramic products.

The African Export-Import Bank was also there to promote their services to the businessmen in Africa.

The accompanying photos show some of the stalls at the expo and on front page a dance performance by our national troupe.