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Senior Business Reporter
THE Bulawayo Chamber of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) says its members are eager to tap into opportunities presented by the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), which begins today.

Bulawayo Chamber of SMEs coordinator Mr Nketha Dlamini said as a chamber they have been moving around the SMEs clusters in the city engaging their members to gear up for ZITF.

“In terms of the preparations for the ZITF, we are a chamber of SMEs, so we’re trying to build the capacity of SMEs in the province in as far as imports, production, marketing and business linkages is concerned.

“Currently, we have been moving around to SMEs clusters at the Old CSC Complex, OK Mart, Kelvin West, Beverly Court in so far as trying to make them ready for the trade fair,” he said.

Mr Dlamini said they were yet to compile the number of their members that have registered to participate at this year’s ZITF.

some of the local SME operators

“We haven’t compiled the statistical side. But just to give you a rough idea, when we went to Old CSC Complex, we talked to about 40 or so members. At OK Mart, there are about 65 members, so I can say maybe 30 percent of that number is interested in participating.

“The idea is if they market themselves through the trade fair, we are really gunning for the market size.

“When we look at the ZITF and an SME displays his or her products, you are likely to attract local, national and may be regional markets since we are likely to have other countries participating,” he said.

Meanwhile, 11 countries have confirmed participation at the 61st edition of the ZITF while most of the exhibition space has been taken up.

A total of 396 companies have expressed interest to exhibit at ZITF 2021, 94 of which were leaseholders and 52 were new exhibitors.

The trade fair is being held under the theme: “The New Normal for Business and Industry: Realities and Opportunities,” and will be officially opened by President Mnangagwa on Thursday.

The fair will be held in accordance with national and World Health Organisation Covid-19 prevention measures. Last year’s ZITF was suspended on account of the outbreak of Covid-19.