Rundu trade fair raises less than last year ahead of October exhibition
The Rundu Town Council collected N$552 900 during a gala dinner on Saturday for this year’s trade fair, significantly less than the N$900 000 raised in 2024.
The funds will support the 8th annual Rundu Trade Fair, scheduled to take place from 24 October to 1 November at the Rundu Trade Fair Centre. Despite the lower amount, the council remains optimistic that the 2025 edition will surpass previous ones in participation and impact.
Town Council CEO Olavi Nathanael acknowledged the shortfall but said preparations remain on track, with a strong push to attract more businesses and organisations to exhibit. “We hope to record more exhibitors this year compared to the 155 we hosted last year,” he said.
Steady growth in exhibitor numbers
Nathanael highlighted the trade fair’s consistent growth, noting that exhibitor numbers have risen from 104 in 2022 to 128 in 2023, and then to 155 in 2024, despite global economic challenges. He described the event as an increasingly important platform for investment, trade, and innovation in the Kavango East Region.
“This upward trajectory shows that the Rundu Trade Fair is not merely sustaining its operations but achieving robust expansion,” Nathanael said. “It underscores Rundu’s strategic position as an emerging regional hub for commerce and innovation, strengthening investor confidence in the region’s economic potential.”
The 2025 trade fair will run under the theme Empowering enterprises for sustainable growth, building on last year’s focus on attracting investment. This year’s goal, Nathanael said, is to ensure that investment directly strengthens businesses, small and large, and helps them compete confidently at national, regional, and international levels.
Prime minister takes up patron role
During the gala, the council also announced a major leadership change: Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has been appointed as the new patron of the trade fair for the next three years, succeeding former deputy minister John Mutorwa.
Accepting the role, Ngurare reflected on Rundu’s commercial history and said the trade fair remains a vital driver of the region’s development. “The Rundu Annual Trade Fair is more than just an exhibition event. It is a platform of endless possibilities and seamless opportunities, where businesses, investors, and communities converge to build partnerships that shape our socio-economic development,” he said.
Ngurare added that the fair’s theme aligns closely with Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which prioritises industrialisation, innovation, youth empowerment, and sustainable growth. “By empowering enterprises today, we lay the foundation for inclusive economic growth tomorrow,” he said.
The prime minister also called for greater investment in infrastructure and good governance to unlock Rundu’s full potential as a gateway for trade and cooperation in the Kavango East Region and beyond.
Despite the funding setback, organisers say preparations for the fair are progressing well.
The funds will support the 8th annual Rundu Trade Fair, scheduled to take place from 24 October to 1 November at the Rundu Trade Fair Centre. Despite the lower amount, the council remains optimistic that the 2025 edition will surpass previous ones in participation and impact.
Town Council CEO Olavi Nathanael acknowledged the shortfall but said preparations remain on track, with a strong push to attract more businesses and organisations to exhibit. “We hope to record more exhibitors this year compared to the 155 we hosted last year,” he said.
Steady growth in exhibitor numbers
Nathanael highlighted the trade fair’s consistent growth, noting that exhibitor numbers have risen from 104 in 2022 to 128 in 2023, and then to 155 in 2024, despite global economic challenges. He described the event as an increasingly important platform for investment, trade, and innovation in the Kavango East Region.
“This upward trajectory shows that the Rundu Trade Fair is not merely sustaining its operations but achieving robust expansion,” Nathanael said. “It underscores Rundu’s strategic position as an emerging regional hub for commerce and innovation, strengthening investor confidence in the region’s economic potential.”
The 2025 trade fair will run under the theme Empowering enterprises for sustainable growth, building on last year’s focus on attracting investment. This year’s goal, Nathanael said, is to ensure that investment directly strengthens businesses, small and large, and helps them compete confidently at national, regional, and international levels.
Prime minister takes up patron role
During the gala, the council also announced a major leadership change: Prime Minister Elijah Ngurare has been appointed as the new patron of the trade fair for the next three years, succeeding former deputy minister John Mutorwa.
Accepting the role, Ngurare reflected on Rundu’s commercial history and said the trade fair remains a vital driver of the region’s development. “The Rundu Annual Trade Fair is more than just an exhibition event. It is a platform of endless possibilities and seamless opportunities, where businesses, investors, and communities converge to build partnerships that shape our socio-economic development,” he said.
Ngurare added that the fair’s theme aligns closely with Namibia’s Sixth National Development Plan (NDP6), which prioritises industrialisation, innovation, youth empowerment, and sustainable growth. “By empowering enterprises today, we lay the foundation for inclusive economic growth tomorrow,” he said.
The prime minister also called for greater investment in infrastructure and good governance to unlock Rundu’s full potential as a gateway for trade and cooperation in the Kavango East Region and beyond.
Despite the funding setback, organisers say preparations for the fair are progressing well.
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