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AT least 93 percent of space at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) has been taken up so far compared to 86 percent during the same period last year, amid expectations that this year’s edition will be bigger and better.

Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF)

ZITF chief executive officer, Dr Nicholas Ndebele, said following the resounding success of last year’s exhibition, many countries and organisations had shown interest to participate.

“We are quite excited about ZITF 2023 and anticipating growth in both participation as well as attendance in numbers. Most importantly, we are predicting a high-quality show with strong emphasis on latest trends and innovations,” he said.

Dr Ndebele said so far 415 exhibitors and 11 countries had expressed interest to participate in the 63rd edition of the ZITF.

“Countries that had shown interest to participate included Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania, Angola, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Japan, the United Arab Emirates (AUE) and Belarus,” he said.

“In terms of space uptake, we are at 93 percent which is obviously better than last year at the same time when we were at 86 percent.”

The ZITF is held annually at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo and this year it will run under the theme:

“Transformative Innovation, Global Competitiveness.”

This year it will run from April 25 to 29, with the first three days reserved for business. Dr Ndebele said the theme was a build-up on last year’s, which acknowledges that companies had to rethink, reinvent themselves during the Covid-19 era.

“We are saying companies did those things and demonstrated tremendous resilience. So, for one to continue with that resilience one needs innovation in order to be globally competitive,” he said.

“That is why we are encouraging the issue of innovation in this year’s theme and therefore we are anticipating that companies will be exhibiting and showcasing different innovations, be they in terms of goods and services or in terms of processes they have adopted in order for them to be globally competitive.”

He said registration was still going on for exhibitors and business delegates.

“We have different events that will be running concurrently with the main exhibition. One may participate as an exhibitor or business delegate or sponsor,” he explained.

“Those opportunities still exist, and we are registering more participants in this regard. We regard ZITF as a unique platform offered to the region and the world to showcase the best that the country can provide in a multi-sectoral fashion.”

Dr Ndebele said the Bulawayo Agricultural Show would also run alongside the main exhibition showcasing livestock as well as small grains. — New Ziana