Importers hit ‘fake’ trade shows

THE ASSOCIATION of Import-ers is calling on Trade Minister Ken Valley to meet with them to discuss what they labelled the “misrepresentation of trade ex-positions by organisers who are promoting activities that undermine the employment of local citizens in the distribution sector, while misleading and depriving Government.”

In a press release yesterday, the association said the recent flea market promoted by the Indian High Commissioner and the Confedera-tion of Indian Industries, was nothing short of outright retail sales for cash from members of the general public, and not the trade promotion intended for soliciting wholesale and bulk orders from distributors, as was advertised. They noted that the exposition was a very large commercial venture, where over $350,000 was collected in entrance fees, approximately $1,300,000 was collected in rent from merchants, and approximately $10,000,000 in sales over the ten-day period of the exposition.

The association said apart from the harm that was being caused to local jobs and businesses, the larger danger existed with other diplomatic missions feeling they were entitled to do the same with merchants and products from their countries. They called on the minister to meet with them so that they could work towards returning to a “level playing field and to protect their jobs and businesses.”