Ho, June 15, GNA - A trade fair to boost business in southern sector of the Volta Region prompted by business opportunities offered by the Keta Sea Defence Project is to come off from the 16th to 20th August this year at Keta.

Trade House Multimedia, a private promotional organization based in Keta, is organizing the five-day fair.

At the launch of the fair in Ho on Wednesday Agbotadua Kumassah, Coordinator, told Journalists that the fair was planned to showcase the great potential for trade between the southern Volta Region and the rest of the country and neighbouring Togo.

He said the comparative advantage of the area was the boom in lagoon fishing due to periodic inflow of seawater into the Keta Lagoon. Agbotadua Kumassah said large catches of shellfish such as crabs and shrimps in the area had already created a booming market patronised by organisations in the hospitality industry in and outside the country. He said this had been boosted by the new and shorter road network between Keta and Aflao along the lagoon as part of the Sea Defence project, thus facilitating the fluid movement of people in and out of the area.

"Currently you can start cooking in Keta, dash to Lome for wine and come back to eat," Agbotadua Kumassah said.

Organizations expected to mount stands at the fair include District Assemblies, financial institutions, schools, manufacturing companies, research and technological institutions.

Goods and services to be on display would include electronics, food and beverages, health and natural resource products and banking services.

Agbotadua Kumassah said the growing agribusiness, propelled by the introduction of micro-irrigation plants in the area also offered great potentials for all year round vegetable production as a major business interest for local and foreign investors. He said there were also opportunities in salt production and marketing for investors.

Mr. Prosper Afealete, Vice-Chairman of Trade House Multi-Media said financial and business experts were also slated to give talks at a business forum during the fair to orient people towards entering private business.

He said efforts were being made to involve all district assemblies in the area in the fair to promote products such as kente and pottery being produced in their respective areas. "Trade House Multi Media are indeed poised for action and growth of the economy and Volta Region is bound to enjoy our products and packages," Mr. Afealete stated.