2010 ITEX & FOBEX PRESS RELEASE

Fairground Holdings will this year host the annual Information Technology Exhibition (ITEX) and Food and Beverage Exhibition (FOBEX) from the 29th to the 31st of July 2010. "The theme for the two events is: ICT ENABLED INNOVATION AND PRODUCTIVITY; KEY TO BUSINESS SURVIVAL IN THE NEW DECADE AND BEYOND.

The Marketing and Communications Manager of Fairgrounds Holdings - Ms. Nyaladzi Kutjwe explained that the theme encourages stakeholders to invest in Information Communications Technology (ICT) so that they can integrate their business strategy, organisational transformation; new marketing strategies and staff development to become globally competitive.

“ICT improves innovation, service delivery, efficiency, education quality, productivity and overall development efforts and initiatives,” she said.

Ms. Kutjwe added that innovation is about novel activities that derive economic value to a business at the same time benefiting the customers. ITEX will this year introduce ICT awards where outstanding young people will be rewarded for contributing to social development through the use of Information Communications Technology.

ITEX is the premier ICT exhibition that will create a platform for organisations to learn about the state-of-the art ICT solutions that improve innovation and productivity. It also offers exhibitors an opportunity to benchmark, share and network with other stakeholders in the industry.

The exhibition will help exhibitors to link directly with potential buyers in various sectors of the economy in addition to showcasing their products and services in areas of education; business solutions; IT solutions; office automation and supplies; telecommunications; communications and consumer electronics.

The Marketing and Communications Manager revealed that ITEX is open for all sectors like insurance, healthcare, finance, government private sector and parastatals.

The ITEX Conference which had become a ‘think-tank’ for the public-private sector will not be hosted this year. In the spirit of the theme, Fairground Holdings in conjunction with its key stakeholders are in the process of re-engineering the Conference so that it meets the expectations of the stakeholders. The ITEX 2011 will bear all the hallmarks of a rejuvenated Conference. Fairground Holdings will be innovative in coming up with a remodelled event to ensure that it delivers on its mandate – it’s about productivity.

However, Fairground Holdings will be hosting a workshop aptly titled “ICT and Productivity” and the catchment footprint of the topic covers Manufacturing, Trade, Services and Education as ICT has a role to play at every stage.

This presentation will seek to focus on the area of Services and Education and to investigate how the investment in ICT could be maximized to create productivity at all levels in Botswana.

On the other hand, FOBEX will host exhibitors in the categories of Food & Beverage; Food Catering, Food Technology; Hospitality Services and Retail Franchises.

This event is a platform for SMMEs, corporate and research institutions to showcase and demonstrate their products and services. Exhibitors from the whole spectrum of the food and beverage supply chain will be at the exhibition.

Following on the overwhelming successes of the previous FOBEX Cultural Nights of 2008-9, this year the event has attracted a mosaic culinary practices, edibles and drinks from over ten regional and overseas countries.

“For many years, visitors to this country have brought foods, culinary practices, beliefs about edibles, and related traditions along with them. FOBEX Cultural Night aspires to bring together the multi-cultural community in a vibrant celebration of music, food and culture. I encourage you to be part of this melting pot of global cultures” said Ms. Kutjwe.

This year’s partners for the FOBEX Cultural Night that will be held on Saturday, 31st of July, 2010 are Duma FM, Mmegi and Amarula Cream. No-one can afford to miss a memorable night under the Botswana stars. It is simply an expose of art and cultural aspects of global cultures.

There are no entry fees to be paid at the gates for the exhibition, and one has to part with only P250 for the sumptuous meals and entertainment at the FOBEX Cultural Night.

Notes to Editors
Fairground Holdings Fairground Holdings (Pty) Limited, was established on the 21st March, 1986. It is a subsidiary of the Botswana Development Corporation (BDC) with 51% shareholding and the other shareholder is the Government of Botswana with 49% shares. The company was set up primarily to operate the Gaborone International Trade fair, which was later expanded and upgraded to Botswana International Trade Fair. Which is now know as The Botswana Consumer Fair. Other Home grown exhibitions include FOBEX and ITEX. The company hosts events housing an estimated mean of 5000 people monthly and employs 100 permanent staff.

ENQUIRIES:
Nyaladzi Kutjwe
Marketing and Communication Manager
Tel: 3651646
Fax: 3914124
E-mail: nkutjwe@fgh.co.bw.