daniel chigunwe
Business Writer
The forthcoming 63rd edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo should be used by local businesses as a platform to grow the Zimbabwean economy as it is the epicenter of local and regional enterprises’ ecosystems.
The ZITF runs from 25 to 29 April under the theme “Transformative Innovation, Global Competitiveness”.
The official opening ceremony is pencilled for Friday, 28 April.
ZITF company chairman, Busisa Moyo, says the international and multi-sectoral trade showcase will be both a meeting arena and a learning platform for industry players to accelerate their growth and innovate with impact.
To that end, the industry should strive to improve the competitiveness of locally produced products through improving capacity utilisation of various sectors.
“This year’s theme “Transformative Innovation, Global Competitiveness,” locates ZITF as the epicenter for fortifying local and regional enterprise ecosystems to be able to compete on the global stage.
“The ZITF 2023 theme is particularly fitting because it touches on the core elements of our national vision 2030 and its current medium term plan NDS1, by highlighting that the only way to grow the Zimbabwean economy is to improve the competitiveness of locally produced products through improving the capacity and capacity utilisation of the manufacturing sector.
“Moreover, for that to happen, our businesses need to be innovative in terms of both their industrial processes and their business models.”
Moyo said the industrialisation is not just a Zimbabwe problem but also one that affects the whole of the African continent and the SADC region.
This year’s exhibition has an extra marketing layer which local companies can exploit, the participation of the European Union mission for the first time.
The EU delegation would be showcasing as a bloc unlike in previous years when member states would exhibit individually.
“Notable amongst the first-time exhibitors which will be participating this year is the Delegation of the European Union to Zimbabwe,” he said.
“While in the past we have had individual countries from the EU participating (e.g France, Germany and Italy), this will be the first participation by the mission itself.
“In addition to certain individual national displays on trade opportunities, the bloc will also have exhibits of the various programmes that it is running in and with Zimbabwe,”
Moyo indicated that 21 foreign nations, representing both nation participation and individual companies have confirmed attendance.
The countries represented are; Angola, Belarus, Botswana, China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zambia.
On the number of confirmed exhibition space taken to date, over 48,000 square metres, which converts to 97.2 percent of available exhibition space has been sold.
The figure compares favourably to the same period last year where uptake was at 43,100 square metres.
“In terms of exhibitor numbers, we are currently sitting at 533 direct exhibitors which is 27 percent higher than last year’s closing total of 420 direct exhibitors and 13 percent higher than the booking situation at the same time last year (471 direct exhibitors.
“This figure includes 108 new exhibitors, indicating an 80 percent retention rate on traditional exhibiting organisations.”
Added to that, 25 direct exhibits from 21 foreign nations, representing both nation participation and individual companies have confirmed participation.
“This compares favourably to the 2022 edition where 16 direct exhibitors from 13 countries took part in the show. The countries represented are Angola, Belarus, Botswana, China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zambia.”
However, locally, 65 of the confirmed exhibitors are from Harare while Bulawayo-based companies accounted for 21 percent, added Moyo.
In keeping with industry’s expectations for a platform that delivers constructive engagements, useful insights and invaluable networking opportunities, Moyo said the International Business Conference hosted by ZITF in conjunction with the National Economic Consultative Forum which is now a regular feature would be held.
The business conference will run under the main ZITF theme.
It will focus on evaluating Zimbabwe’s innovation standing in terms of regional and global competitiveness, sharing insights on the innovation opportunities available as well as mapping the way forward for a globally competitive Zimbabwe.
Over 600 delegates are expected to attend the conference to be headlined by Vice President, Dr Constantino Chiwenga.
Bongani Ndlovu