Africa’s global bank, United Bank for Africa Plc, has expressed its commitment to support the growth of small and medium scale businesses, and be a sponsor of the 2022 edition of the Lagos International Trade Fair.

The bank said in a statement that it had been the headline sponsor for event since 2019, and this year’s edition, which is the 36th edition, would take place in November.

Speaking on the bank’s commitment, UBA’s Head of Retail, Digital & Transaction Banking, Sampson Aneke, said “In line with UBA’s unflinching support to the growth of small and medium enterprises, the bank will be giving special incentives to businesses who register to attend the fair.”

Aneke noted that the bank, with its extensive spread across Africa and other major economies of the world, was always on the lookout for partnership opportunities that would benefit the business environment and the economies where it operates.

Also speaking, UBA’s Head Brand and Marketing, Uzoamaka Oyeka, said, “As a leader in African trade and promotion of SMEs, we have identified the fair as a genuine avenue for both domestic and international trade exhibitors to promote their businesses through product launches, sales opportunities, business-to-business meetings with government agencies whilst fostering international trade partnership deals across borders.”

In the statement, the Director-General, LCCI, Dr Chinyere Alumona, commended UBA for the collaboration with LCCI on the event.

She said the bank has consistently remained a dependable partner since 2019, and there were great expectations that this year’s edition would equally yield great benefits, like the previous ones, owing to the fact that the LITF hosts an average of 2,000 exhibitors annually, with over 200 foreign exhibitors from 16 countries.