WINDHOEK: The five-day Katutura Central Expo has kicked off at Independence Arena in the capital on Thursday.

“We have noted a good improvement compared to last year in terms of our exhibitor either small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs) and companies showcasing their products and services,” member of the organising committee, Dion Gawanab told Nampa on Thursday.

Gawanab said this year the Expo attracted more than 34 corporate companies compared with 8 of last year and over 40 SME compared to 20 of last years.

He said the expo will feature different musical and cultural performances, a livestock show, prize-giving ceremony, and a boxing tournament with local boxers and boxers from Zimbabwe and South Africa.

The venue gates will open at 08h00 and close at 22h00 during the expo, and the entrance fee for children is N.dollars 5, while students pay N.dollars 10 and adults, N.dollars 20. Entrance will be free for pensioners.

Trade and Industry Minister Hage Geingob is expected to officiate at the opening of the expo on Friday.

The expo is sponsored by Metropolitan with N.dollars 20 000, Agra Cooperative N.dollars 15 000, Ministry of Agriculture Water and Forestry N.dollars 10 000, BFS investment N.dollars 45 000, Telecom Namibia N.dollars 45 000, and Trip travel N.dollars 5 000.

Other sponsors of the event include Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Safety and Security, Namibia Defense Force (NDF) with tents, City of Windhoek, Namprint and Social Security of Namibia.

The expo ends on Sunday.