March 6, 2008 -- The Eve 2008 international trade show for women opened Thursday (March 5th) at the Pin Maritimes exhibition hall in Algiers. Organised by the World Trade Centre Association (WTCA) to coincide with International Women's Day on March 8th, the four-day event will allow more than 1,000 female entrepreneurs the opportunity to unveil their latest ideas to the public.
This fourth annual exhibition also has some nice surprises in store for the general public. Attendees will be able to enjoy product demonstrations and reduced prices on ready-to-wear clothes, accessories, hair styling and cosmetics, interior décor and fitness products.
At a press conference announcing this week's event, organisers explained that the show is a chance to expand "economic activity among Algerian businesses and…enable national and international exchanges between professionals working in the women’s well-being sector, in broadest sense of the term."
Hocine Saïbi of the WTCA said, "Through holding this show, we really want to honour Algerian women, who know how to defend their country and their home. The resources we have poured into this show are largely irrelevant. They are nothing compared with the respect we want to show for women."
Pepped up by the huge success achieved at last year's show, he added, "More than 50,000 visitors are expected to attend EVE 2008, where all sectors of women-related activities will be represented."
Half of the female entrepreneurs now participating in the expo benefited from credit advanced by the National Agency to Support Youth Employment (ANSEJ) to establish their businesses.
One of the women who received micro-credit is exhibitor Nabila Benfedha. The experience is "immensely enriching", she said. Having worked for many years from home, she was forced to rely on word of mouth to sell her products. This week's event marks a real turning-point in her career, she told Magharebia.
"This is the first time I have taken part in such a big show. It's a tremendous opportunity to establish a presence in the interior décor market. This provides a showcase for our work. This also provides an opportunity to promote Algerian products, to show what we are capable of doing. I’ve been able to network with Algerian and foreign professionals working in the sector," she said.
Nabila added, "The future looks very bright."
Since entry to the exhibition is free, visitors can take advantage of the reductions on various local and foreign products. To the delight of fashion and beauty devotees, EVE 2008 features runway shows of the latest apparel as well as a major beauty and hair styling competition.
More than 300 celebrities from the fashion industry are expected to attend the closing ceremony on March 9th.
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