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Trust Freddy Herald Correspondent
MORE than 100 first-time exhibitors including the European Union have already registered to participate in the 63rd edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) as the Second Republic’s re-engagement and engagement drive continues to bear fruit.
ZITF 2023 will be held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo and this year it will run under the theme: “Transformative Innovation, Global Competitiveness,” from April 25 to 29.
Giving an update on the state of preparedness during a post-Cabinet media briefing in Harare on Wednesday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Monica Mutsvangwa, said preparations for the Fair had reached an advanced stage, with around 600 exhibitors already registered, compared to last year’s 471.
“As the Second Republic’s re- engagement and engagement policy continues to yield tremendous results in facilitating trade and investment, more than 100 participants have registered as first time exhibitors, including the European Union,” Minister Mutsvangwa said.
“The foreign nations expected to exhibit include: Botswana, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Angola, Kenya, Nigeria, Tanzania, Belarus, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Arab Emirates, the United Kingdom, China, and the United States of America.”
The ZITF International Business Conference, which is expected to be attended by over 600 delegates, will be officially opened by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, on April 27. The VP will also deliver a keynote address at the inaugural Connect Africa Symposium the following day.
Minister Mutsvangwa said the main highlights of the Fair will include the ZITF Diplomats Forum which the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade will host on April 28.
“There will be a ZITF 2023 Charity Golf Challenge at the Bulawayo Golf Club on 27 April, 2023 and the ZNCC Business Luncheon on 28 April, 2023.”
Minister Mutsvangwa urged the nation to look forward to a resoundingly successful 2023 edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair.
Notable among the first-time exhibitors participating at this year’s edition is a delegation from the European Union mission to Zimbabwe and Belarus.
Although EU member states such as France, Italy and Germany have participated in previous exhibitions, this will be the first time that the mission itself will participate.
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.
Belarus will also exhibit at this year’s edition for the first time ever, as relations between Harare and Minsk continue to grow from strength to strength following President Alexander Lukashenko’s recent State visit to Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe will in turn reciprocate the gesture by participating at the Belarus Agriculture Fair 2023 scheduled for some time this month or in May.
Online Reporter