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Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair
OATF is an annual event that is held under the auspices of Ongwediva Town Council. The event is organized by a Committee that is appointed by Ongwediva Town Council for a period of three (3) years. The event is held at the Ongwediva Trade Centre, in Ongwediva during the last week of the month of August. It is a multi-sectoral trade and business exhibition. Various activities are held at the venue during the OATF such as workshops, business seminars, product promotions, entertainment, agricultural shows and auctions etc. The fair draws its participation from entrepreneurs, SME’s to Corporate Entities, Government Ministries and Departments and local, regional and international exhibitors. As a tradition, the OATF is preceded by a gala dinner which serves as fundraiser for the upcoming fair.

The OATF was hosted for the first time in the year 2000 with Ongwediva Town Council with the assistance of the Ministry of Trade and Industry, as the driving entity of the Ongwediva Annual Trade Fair. A committee consisting of Ongwediva Town Council staff members, representative from the Ministry of Trade and Industry, community members and members from the business community was appointed by the Ongwediva Town Council to organize the trade fair. The Chairperson of the Committee was the late CEO of Ongwediva Town Council, Ms. Auguste Williams-Taanyanda. Prior to the year 2000, trade fairs were held under the banner of the Northern Namibia Trade Fair Association (NNTFA) which hosted their first trade fair during the year 1995. OATF 2000 was the second trade fair, after the WIB SADCC Fair that took place during the same year, to be hosted after the commissioning of the Queens Hall.

Employment: Direct temporary employment opportunities are created by employing youth as cashiers and hostest. Indirect employment is created through local service providers who are contracted for catering, security services, cleaning services, electrical maintenance work, printing services and many more. SME Development: SME’s and small traders are offered an opportunity to participate at the OATF at a subsidized fee of only N$250.00. SME’s and individual also have an opportunity to compete for food kiosk through competitive tender process and acquire a venue for trading in all type of food and beverages. Ongwediva Trade Fair Centre is situated along the Ongwediva /Oshakati main road (B1 Road) opposite Trustco office in Ongwediva.