“We are so busy that I don’t even have time to watch the world cup rugby” says Okakarara based entrepreneur, Neil McKenzie who together with his wife Kaejanda own N & K McKenzie Manufacturing. McKenzie, who hails from Australia, a country that has dominated international rugby for decades, has been in Okakarara for the past 11 years, initially arriving as an instructor at the vocational training centre. The firm that he and his wife started three years ago is engaged in the provision of light engineering services and manufactures a range of products and equipment mainly for the agricultural sector, including animal feed troughs, was one of more than 150 business entities who exhibited at the just ended Okakarara Trade Fair.

N & K McKenzie Manufacturing sold all items on display within the first hour of the show starting. In a telephone interview earlier this week McKenzie said that orders secured during the trade fair will keep him busy for weeks. - Last week thousands of visitors from as far away as Windhoek and Oshakati visited the first ever Okakarara Trade Fair which is set to become one of the largest exhibitions on Namibia’s annual business calendar. The three day long event that ended on Sunday took place on the grounds of the Okakarara Community Cultural & Tourism Centre situated on the outskirts of the town. In addition to providing an opportunity for local entrepreneurs and those from other urban areas around Namibia to showcase their wares a high number of corporate firms, parastatals and government ministries also exhibited. A side event that also served to attract many was a cattle show. - “We were impressed by the high turnout of elected and traditional leaders”, says the chairman of the Okakarara Trade Fair Society, Jack-son Hindjou. These included para-mount chief of the Ovaherero, Kuaima Riruako and regional councillor Vetaruhe Kandorozu. Opened on Satur-day morning by Minister of Trade and Industry (MTI), Immanuel Nghatjizeko, the group chief executive of First National Bank (FNB) Vekuii Rukoro was one of the many captains of business who attended the pionee-ring event. His firm also exhibited and provided a mobile ATM service  for the convenience of visitors.