Luanda: The third edition of Expo-Bi©, which concluded last Sunday, distinguished itself as a genuine business hub, highlighting viable strategies for promoting the region's comprehensive and sustainable development. By Valentino Yequenha, ANGOP Journalist, the province's largest trade fair, launched in 2015, brought together a diverse range of services capable of meeting current challenges, thereby facilitating trade, networking, and the establishment of solid partnerships.
According to Angola Press News Agency, the major highlight of this edition, held under the theme "Fostering Production and Processing for Food Self-Sufficiency," was the inaugural Livestock Fair and Auction. This initiative aligns with the event's theme, as it is crucial for livestock development and serves as a meeting point for national breeders to exchange experiences and knowledge, as well as to define strategies aimed at boosting production and improving livestock genetic quality.
The one-day Livestock Fair and Auction, which featured 19 exhibitors from the provinces of Bi©, Benguela, Huambo, and Hula, generated 48.84 million kwanzas in revenue. A total of 107 head of livestock were sold, including cattle, goats, pigs, horses, sheep, and various species of poultry, organized into 40 lots.
The results of this pilot project provide clear evidence that the initiative is a powerful strategy for economic diversification, given its pivotal role in boosting the livestock sector to increase national meat and milk production and reduce reliance on imports. In addition, the Technology, Innovation, and Science Fair (FETIC) was incorporated into the history of Expo-Bi©, an initiative that demonstrated the event's commitment to sustainable development strategies based on technological innovation.
Under the slogan "Bi© - at the forefront of national technologies," FETIC, funded by the Project for Strengthening Governance to Improve Service Delivery in Angola (Njila), featured the participation of over 70 inventors and creators from Bi© province. They presented startups and technological projects spanning various fields of knowledge. This initiative showcased innovative solutions, scientific projects, and technological advancements, prompting reflection on the role of science and technology in the region's social and economic transformation.
The event, notable for its use of ANGOSAT-2 internet connectivity, highlighted the creative and innovative potential of the province's youth, as the region increasingly gains ground in the national technological landscape. Proof of this potential was the success achieved at the sixth edition of the Angola International Information and Communication Technologies Forum (ANGOTIC), held last month in the capital, Luanda, by the "Viva +" project.
Created by students Alcedo Madruga and Isabel Sapesse from the Ndumduma Higher Polytechnic Institute in Bi©, the platform stood out among dozens of competitors from across the country; it is designed to optimize hospital management and ensure greater efficiency in registering and monitoring infants. This same platform, developed into the "Viva + Integrated with Sentinela" version, capable of monitoring patients in general, also won the first edition of FETIC.
Throughout the four-day expo, the social impact of services provided by the province's public and private institutions was also evident. These efforts aimed to bring services closer to citizens through concrete actions focused on the population's well-being. This initiative aligns with strategies to cut red tape regarding citizens' access to basic services, thereby promoting social inclusion and institutional efficiency. At the facility, numerous users were able to resolve pending matters regarding document processing and access useful services that would normally require trips to different agencies.
Reports from the Bi© Delegation of Justice and Human Rights indicate that a mobile unit set up at the venue processed the issuance of over 200 identity cards and registered more than 300 births. Various public and private institutions also provided a range of services to meet collective needs and strengthen the bond between the State and society.
In this second consecutive year of the Expo, following an eight-year hiatus since the inaugural 2015 edition, the cultural component was a highlight of the event, which sought to showcase and celebrate local culture. Cultural performances once again proved to be the main attraction for exhibitors and visitors alike during the evening hours.
More than 600 exhibitors from various sectors were present, occupying strategic spaces to showcase their products and services, up from 446 in the previous edition. The fair generated 2,707,911,090 kwanzas in revenue, compared to 1,650,727,400 kwanzas the previous year. The sale of over six thousand tons of diverse products demonstrates the initiative's economic potential. Furthermore, Expo-Bi© attracted over 63,000 visitors from across the country and abroad, cementing its status as a hub that draws a diverse audience.
According to Hermenegilda Nat©rcia Cristina, the municipal administrator of Mumbu©, the new features introduced in this edition of the Expo, particularly the livestock fair and auction, further enriched the event. In her view, these innovations elevated the fair to a higher level and demonstrated Bi©'s potential for sustainable development and the promotion of a more diversified and inclusive economy. According to Alcedo Madruga, from the project team behind "Viva + Integrado com Sentinela," the visibility given to local initiatives encourages more people to get involved in science and technology, expanding the impact of knowledge on society and fostering sustainable growth.
Among the exhibitors, speakers, and visitors, several international figures stood out and also offered positive assessments of the event. For instance, South African Aston Bull, who gave a presentation on "New methods of livestock breeding and twinning using new technologies," described the Livestock Fair and Auction as an "incredible experience." According to the speaker, his participation, in his capacity as a manager and client support specialist for Topigs Norsvin SA, allowed him to witness the potential of Bi©'s livestock sector firsthand.
