Online Reporter
Thupeyo Muleya, Beitbridge Bureau
The Beitbridge Business Expo, a key event set to showcase local entrepreneurship and innovation began at Dulivhadzimu Stadium on Thursday morning and will run until Saturday.
This year’s event is running under the theme “Beitbridge 24 Seven”, a concept aimed at fostering a culture of quality, round-the-clock service delivery by local providers.
It (theme) aligns with the town’s ongoing modernisation efforts and the 24-hour operations of the Beitbridge border post, which serves as a critical gateway for regional trade.
Organisers said the expo has also attracted a lot of new businesses marking a significant milestone for the region’s business community.
The Expo is designed to serve as a dynamic platform for local businesses to showcase their products and services, engage with potential investors and gain valuable insights from industry leaders.
It draws a diverse mix of entrepreneurs, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and large corporations from across the region, all eager to explore new opportunities and forge meaningful connections.
“The Beitbridge Business Expo has started with a lively and quick temp which is a positive impact on the local economy, promoting entrepreneurship, innovation and economic growth. You will note that as of today (Thursday) at least 80 percent of the exhibitors are already on the ground and we expect the remaining 20 percent to be here by the end of today,” said Mr Nqobile Ncube, vice chairperson of the Beitbridge Business Expo.
He said expo was being held for the last time at Dulivhadzimu stadium considering that they were now developing their own show ground north of the town along the Bulawayo road.
Mr Ncube said civil works were well ahead with landscaping of the area already underway.
Mr Ncube said this year they had at least six new exhibitors and continue to get more enquiries from businesses from the various economic sectors.
“The Expo will also provide opportunities for local businesses to access new markets, technologies and expertise. To show that we mean business we have brought in an external adjudication team from the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) led by their chief executive officer to ensure we improve the quality of business and the expo,” said Mr Ncube.
“We have done an info-session with the exhibitors today and we expect the event to be even bigger this year. There are a lot of activities lined up and the Expo will be officially opened by the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution (Cde Albert Nguluvhe) on Saturday.”
Mr Ncube emphasised that the Expo offers a unique chance for visibility and growth, particularly for emerging enterprises.
The organisers’ long-term vision in which travellers passing through Beitbridge would have access to essential services — such as restaurants, fuel stations and other amenities — at any hour of the day or night. This vision, he noted, is central to the town’s transformation into a modern, service-oriented hub.
As of Thursday afternoon a wide range of institutions, including major corporates, SMEs, youth organisations and government agencies, had already set up their stalls at the Expo venue.
It is understood that their involvement signals growing confidence in Beitbridge’s economic potential and its role as a regional business centre.
