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Noma Ndlovu

Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
Eighty-six percent of available exhibition space at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) has been taken up, less than three weeks before the show begins in Bulawayo, a senior official has said.
The 55th edition of the trade fair runs from April 22 to 26 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in the city under the theme, “New Ideas to New Heights”.

ZITF Company general manager Noma Ndlovu said preparations for the upcoming trade showcase were at an advanced stage and indications were that the show would do well. Last year 16 foreign countries were represented.  So far 15 have confirmed.
“Bookings and enquiries are coming on a daily basis from within Zimbabwe and abroad.

“The net exhibition space available for sale is about 51,000 square metres including hall space, pavilions and external sites.
“Of this, a total of 44,000 square metres has been booked so far, representing 86 percent of space taken,” she said.
Congo Brazzaville president Denis Sassou Nguesso is set to open the event.

Ndlovu said the Ministry of Commerce and Provisions from Congo Brazaville had booked a stand in support of their president and efforts were underway to attract a business delegation from that country.

“While ZITF has attracted individual companies over the years from French-speaking Africa, this is the first time we have had a national stand. Congo Brazzaville is the 15th foreign nation to confirm participation,” said Ndlovu.

“Other countries represented at ZITF 2014 include Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Italy, Iran, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa, United States of America and Zambia occupying about 3,000 square metres.”

She added that interest from international organisations was high with a total of 21 foreign nations having expressed interest so far.
Highlights of the five-day exhibition include the Zimbabwe International Business Conference on April 23 organised in partnership with National Economic Consultative Forum among others.

The business conference will run under the theme, “Technology and Innovation: A Key Pillar for Zim-Asset Successful Implementation”, featuring a mix of local and international speakers including presentations by China, USA and India envoys to Zimbabwe. Vice President Joice Mujuru is expected to deliver a keynote address at the business conference.

“The interactive sessions of the conference present a very important platform for business, academia, labour and civil society to discuss new policy initiatives that are designed to enhance the growth of the Zimbabwean economy,” Ndlovu said.

ZITF 2014 runs concurrently with sector-specific expos – A’sambeni Africa Tourism and Travel Expo, Pakprint, Scholastica and Ultim8 Home.

Confirmed speakers for the career workshops include representatives from the Airforce of Zimbabwe, Empretec, Marketers Association of Zimbabwe, Mpilo School of Medicine, National University of Science and Technology, Stop to Start International, Zimbabwe School of Mines as well as other individual consultants and motivational speakers.

For A’sambeni, Ndlovu said 20 hosted-buyers had been invited from the Sadc region to come and sample the different Meetings Incentives Conferences, and Exhibitions (Mice) tourism-related exhibits.

Business-to-business meetings between the buyers and industry players will be arranged during the tourism exhibition.
“An additional feature of the A’sambeni expo will be the Mice Tourism educational workshops to be held on April 24 in conjunction with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority aimed at educating and creating awareness to Zimbabwean corporate executives on incentive travel as well as the role played by associations and non-governmental organisations in profiling Zimbabwe as a meetings and conferencing destination,” Ndlovu said.