Online Reporter
Sukulwenkosi Dube-Matutu [email protected]
THE fourth edition of the Insiza Industrial Expo is today being officially opened by Minister of State for Matabeleland South Provincial Affairs and Devolution Cde Albert Nguluvhe at the Filabusi grounds, with the district seeking to position itself as an investment and business hub.
The three-day expo, which ran from September 16 to 18 under the theme “Connect, Collaborate, Grow,” is being held as Insiza intensifies efforts to stimulate local economic development and attract investment.
The event also coincides with the commissioning of a refuse compactor purchased by Insiza Rural District Council using devolution funds at a cost of US$122 000, adding to the local authority’s efforts to strengthen service delivery.
Insiza RDC chief executive officer Mr Shepherd Tshuma said the expo had grown steadily since its launch in 2023, with both the number of exhibitors and range of sectors represented increasing each year.
He urged investors to explore opportunities in key sectors including agriculture and agro-processing, mining and mineral beneficiation, manufacturing, tourism, innovation and skills development, as well as housing.
The expo has become an important platform for connecting businesses, promoting value chains and creating linkages across sectors, with organisers saying this helps local communities participate more meaningfully in economic activity.
For Insiza RDC, the exhibition is also an expression of the Government’s devolution thrust, which seeks to place communities at the centre of planning, investment and development.
The event comes as stakeholders work towards modernising Filabusi in line with its town status, a process that is opening opportunities for small businesses and other investors.
Filabusi is the administrative centre of Insiza District and serves surrounding farming and mining communities, with cattle ranching and limited crop production forming part of the local economic base.
The industrial expo is therefore expected to provide a platform for exhibitors, entrepreneurs and investors to explore partnerships that can support economic growth and expand opportunities in the district.
@DubeMatutu
