Online Reporter
Judith Phiri, Zimpapers Business Hub
Businesses in Bulawayo are looking forward to the twin trade showcases, the Mining Engineering and Transport Expo (Mine Entra) 2025 and the Africa Infrastructure and Built Environment Conference and Expo (AfriConfex) 2025 which both started yesterday and end on Friday.
The two events are expected to provide the businesses with opportunities to grow their enterprises and generate the much-needed income.
The expos, running concurrently at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition and Conference Smart City (ZIECS), have attracted hundreds of exhibitors and delegates from across the globe, reinforcing Zimbabwe’s position as a regional hub for mining, infrastructure and industrial innovation.
These expos, just like the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) which is held in April, provide a platform for Zimbabwean companies to establish partnerships and synergies.
In an interview, Bulawayo Chamber of Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) vice-chairperson, Ms Sithabile Bhebhe, said such events were a major boost for business in the city.
“Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) should take advantage of the expos just like they do during ZITF to grow their enterprises and generate the much-needed income.
“They should take advantage of such expos to market their products and services,” she said.
Ms Bhebhe said those in sectors such as the food industry, tourism and transport, among others, should ensure they provide products and services that market Zimbabwe as a tourist destination of choice.
“MSMEs should use these platforms to market their products to a wider and more diverse populace. Local industries in different sectors should promote and engage strategic partners to boost their businesses.”
Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland Chapter past vice-president and businessman, Mr Louis Herbst, said such events also promote infrastructure development in the city.
“Such expos are a major boost to the Bulawayo business ecosystem and as a business, we are always optimistic about the benefits we get from them. Complementing ZITF, which is a major boost for our city and country at large, Mine Entra and AfriConfex are key to economic development,” he said.
He encouraged business players to attend conferences and sideline events that take place during the expos to establish strategic business ties with local, regional and international business partners.
On accommodation and hospitality, Hospitality Association of Zimbabwe (HAZ) Bulawayo Chapter Hotels representative, Mr Fungai Mutseyekwa, said players expect good business throughout the week.
Held under the theme “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining,” Mine Entra 2025 is focusing on sustainability, technology and investment opportunities in Zimbabwe’s mining sector, a key driver of national economic growth.
AfriConfex 2025, themed “Smart Moves: Powering Zimbabwe’s Infrastructure Evolution,” will bring together architects, engineers, urban planners, financiers and policymakers to deliberate on the future of infrastructure development, with an emphasis on climate-resilient and sustainable urban growth.
