The Travelling Mining and Technical Exhibitions (MTE) kicked off at Walvis Bay Civic Centre on Tuesday. The popular expo aims to bring together suppliers and buyers to promote business opportunities, locally and internationally. About 53 exhibitors are taking part this year, of which at least 21 are Namibian. The exhibitors are showcasing products focussed on the port expansion, fisheries, civil engineering, mining, rail infrastructure and construction-related industries. Chairperson of Walvis Bay Town Council’s management committee, Councillor Tobias Nambala, at the opening of the expo said the town welcomes such initiatives due to the extensive mining and construction activities ongoing in the region. “We can only benefit from such exhibitions, as they bring the suppliers and exhibitors under one roof and also create smart partnerships for future developments,” he said. He noted that the exhibition also provides a networking platform for forming new partnership and distribution networks – not only for international products, but for Namibian companies as well – which can in turn boost the country’s economy. MTE operations manager Andrew Macnamara said they created a vehicle for foreign and local exhibitors to showcase products and services, introduce new suppliers to the supply chain and make the city come alive with economic opportunities. “As a result I always spend about two months prior to the event in Namibia to liaise with buyers and suppliers to see what services and products are needed,” he explained. He said they have received positive reviews from exhibitors and buyers. The exhibition ended here yesterday.