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Nomathemba Ndlovu

Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
FOREIGN and local exhibitors have started arriving in Bulawayo ahead of this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), which starts next Tuesday.

The five-day premier trade showcase will have 17 foreign nations participating and close to 400 delegates.

ZITF Company general manager Nomathemba Ndlovu told journalists yesterday that the exhibition centre was now a hive of activity as exhibitors had started putting up their stands ahead of the trade fair, which runs from April 28 to May 2.

“It’s now all systems go at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo. The exhibition centre is now a hive of activity as exhibitors have started arriving and setting up their stands ahead of the five-day multi-sectoral, international trade exhibition next week,” said Ndlovu.

She said Cyprus was the 17th nation to confirm participation through the University of Nicosia, which will be exhibiting in the Scholastica exhibition.

Other sector specific expos to run concurrently with the trade fair are A’sambeni Africa Business Tourism Expo, Pakprint and Ultim8Home.

Botswana, China, India, Indonesia, Iran Japan, Germany, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Pakistan, Poland, South Africa are among the countries that have confirmed participation.

Ndlovu said 412 direct exhibitors had so far reserved space at this year’s fair while bookings were still being accepted.

“This figure compares favourably with last year’s closing total of 396. These exhibitors have taken up 46,018 square metres, which represents 91 percent of the space available for sale.”

In terms of local participation, Ndlovu said, this year, 55 percent of their exhibitors would be coming from Harare (last year was 57 percent), 37 percent were from Bulawayo (last year was 35 percent) while eight percent will be coming from other cities and towns in Zimbabwe.

Foreign participation was also up with 32 organisations having confirmed participation to date.

This year’s trade fair, which runs under the theme, “Stimulating Exports Seizing Opportunities to Accelerate Growth under Zim-Asset”, will be officially opened by the Zambian president Edgar Lungu on Thursday.

Major highlights of the trade fair include the Incentive Travel Workshop on April 28 organised in partnership with the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority, and the International Business Conference on April 29.

Close to 400 business delegates are expected to participate at the International Business Conference, which is being organised in partnership with the National Economic Consultative Forum and other stakeholders.

“The programme will discuss how business can stimulate exports and leverage them to create opportunities to accelerate economic growth.

“Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be delivering the key note address on “Accelerated Implementation of Zim-Asset through value addition and beneficiation”, said Ndlovu.