Trade Minister represented the Prime Minister at the official kick-off in Douala on May 28, 2015.
The Douala International Development Fair, dubbed DIDF, which saw the light of day in 2009, has witnessed steady growth over the years. The trade fair, an initiative of former Member of Parliament, Jean Jacques Ekindi, brought together economic stakeholders and businessmen from all over the country, who showcased advanced technology in all fields.
Egg incubators of various sizes, with the largest that can contain 400 eggs, were part of the 2015 innovations. According to the exhibitor, only eggs of one to 24 hours old are placed in the incubator that produces chicks after 21 days. The success rate, the exhibitor further explained, is 100 per cent. Another major innovation in the fair that ended yesterday, May 31, 2015, was oil presses and refineries of various sizes. Using the oil press will not only increase small holders’ production capacity, but will automatically increase their profits as well.
Other crowd-pulling stands included those of livestock where a three-year-old cock sold at FCFA 25,000. A pharmacy for livestock stocked with natural products that cures cough and diarrhoea, among other illnesses, caught the attention of many a visitor. The exhibition that was more of modern technology than foodstuff, saw the presence of the National Cocoa and Coffee Board brandishing cocoa pods, cocoa beans, processed coffee and chocolate bars.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Trade Minister, Luc Magloire Mbarga Atangana, said the trade fair was in line with the Head of State’s vision of an emerging economy. In the presence of the Senior Divisional Officer, SDO for Wouri, Naseri Paul Bea, and CCIMA President, Christophe Eken, he intimated that DIDF deserves being transformed into a sub-regional exhibition where participants like industrialists, entrepreneurs, businessmen and financial bodies will converge on Douala annually and showcase their products.
The trade fair promoter, Jean Jacques Ekindi, said the fair has grown in quality. “Crayfish and roast chicken have given way to modern technology. There has been a lot of innovation this year with the exhibition of sophisticated machines like the egg incubator and oil press,” he mentioned. He acknowledged the constant support of the government and promised that next year’s fair will be extraordinary and marked by the presence of foreign exhibitors.
