Exhibitors take up 84% of Mine Entra

Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
A TOTAL of 147 exhibitors have taken up 84 percent of the available exhibition space at this year’s Mining, Engineering and Transport expo (Mine Entra), which starts in Bulawayo later this month.

Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company general manager Noma Ndlovu told journalists yesterday the above figures compare favourably with those of last year during the same period.

“Space bookings are currently sitting at 84 percent of available space occupied by a total of 147 exhibitors. These include foreign exhibitors from China, Germany and South Africa. These figures compare favourably with last year’s statistics where we had the same amount of space booked as at two weeks before the exhibition,” she said.

This year’s Mine Entra will be held from July 22 to 24 at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre under the theme: “Unearthing Opportunities”.

Mines and Mining Development Minister Walter Chidhakwa is expected to officially open the event on July 23.

Ndlovu said Mine Entra, which celebrates 20 years of existence this year, was taking place at a time when Zimbabwe’s mining industry was operating below capacity in light of a number of challenges among them liquidity constraints, power deficit, depressed mineral prices and high production costs.

Despite the above challenges, Ndlovu said the mining industry remained a key driver of the country’s economy contributing 15 percent of nominal Gross Domestic Product, more than 50 percent of total exports and an estimated 13 percent of fiscal revenue.

“As guided by its mandate of providing a relevant and targeted trade show which will help uncover Zimbabwe’s wealth and potential, Mine Entra 2015 will feature concurrent networking conferences and events to give participants a one-stop marketing intelligence, corporate profiling and business development solution,” she said. The first day of the expo will see a gathering of key players in the Zimbabwean mining industry during the Mine Entra 2015 conference. Confirmed delegates include relevant policy makers, senior government officials, financiers, investors and industry executives.

“The aim of this conference is to stimulate discussions and influence decisions, activities, legislation and regulation around mining issues translating into socio-economic growth of the nation and region as a whole.

“The conference will address topical issues such as fiscal incentives necessary to support mining linkages and overall growth of the mining sector, empowerment models that support community development and a discussion on the mining policy and enablers to optimal development of the industry,” said Ndlovu.

A small-scale and artisanal miners’ conference will be held on July 24.

It is hoped that the conference will focus on issues affecting the small-scale miners including improved mining methods, environmental responsibility, and acquiring financing.