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Oliver Kazunga, Senior Business Reporter
FOREIGN participation at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) has increased by 27 percent to 28 direct foreign exhibitors compared to 22 during the comparable period last year.
The 57th edition of the trade fair runs from April 26 to 30 under the theme, “Innovate, Integrate, Industrialise”.
This year’s theme places focus on the need for local industry to work with their regional counterparts to find innovative business models that are relevant to the times and will result in the revival of industry.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, ZITF Company board chairman Bekithemba Nkomo said Ghana and Russia would be exhibiting at the 57th edition of the trade fair after a long time of absence.
“Foreign participation is encouraging with 28 direct foreign exhibitors having booked, which is 27 percent higher than the booking statistics at this time last year. In addition to the exhibits and business delegations from traditional ZITF foreign exhibitors, there’re some countries that are exhibiting for the first time after a long time of absence, notably Ghana and Russia. These two countries are also bringing business delegations from Ghana Investment Promotion Centre and Tatarstan Export Corporation of Russia,” he said.
Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Namibia, Malawi, Mozambique, Russia, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia will have national stands while Canada, China, Cyprus, India and Germany would be presented by individual companies.
Nkomo said to date 43,000 square metres (90 percent of the available exhibition space) has been sold with 361 direct exhibitors from 29 countries confirming participation.
“Although most direct foreign exhibitors are still consolidating their participation, indications are that there will be a higher number of indirect exhibitors (individual companies) on the national stands.
“For example, South Africa’s Department of Trade and Industry will this year bring in 35 companies compared to the 24 that they brought in 2015. This is because of the value that they see in the show and the meaningful business connections that South African companies are making with their local counterparts during ZITF,” he said.
Analysis of the local exhibitor composition, Nkomo said to date shows that 63 percent of confirmed exhibitors are from Harare, 28 percent from Bulawayo with the remaining exhibitors coming from other cities around the country.
“Twenty-five percent of the exhibitors are manufacturers, 13 percent are in the distribution while 41 percent are service providing organisations,” he said.
In line with ZITF 2016 theme, he said content around the exhibition has been designed to directly address Zimbabwean industry challenges.
Nkomo said the International Business Conference will be held on April 27.
The conference will see policy makers engage with business leaders on how to leverage innovation and industrailisation for integration into the global economy.
On April 28, a manufacturers’ breakfast would be held.
“Other key events that will take place at the show include the ZITF Charity Golf Challenge on April 28 and the official opening ceremony on April 29. As always, the Bulawayo Agricultural Show will be running concurrently with the ZITF.”
Other sector specific expos to run concurrently with the ZITF 2016 are A’sambeni Africa Business Tourism Expo, Scholastica, Ultim8 Home and Pakprint.
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