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Business Reporters
SIX small to medium enterprises will participate at the 56th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair under the ZimTrade banner as the organisation continues to nurture the sector into viable export entities. ZimTrade chief executive officer Ms Sithembile Pilime said the SMEs, drawn from the clothing, leather, furniture and engineering sectors, were producing quality products that could compete in the local and export markets.
“These SMEs are drawn from those companies that have demonstrated potential to export and/or are graduates of our Export marketing Training Programme now reviewed and rebranded to Marketing and Branding for International Competitiveness (MBIC),” she said.
The ZITF, which will run from April 28 to May 2, will be held under the theme “Stimulating Trade — Seizing Opportunities to Accelerate Growth” emphasising the need for companies to convert potential business networks and innovative ideas established in the past exhibitions into tangible and valuable trade that will help grow the Zimbabwean economy.
Ms Pilime said ZimTrade would also capitalise on the exhibition to disseminate information on its product and service portfolios which would include free demonstrations on how companies could benefit from the upgraded ZimTrade’s Trade Information Centre. Speaking on what the organisation was doing to assist SMEs, Ms Pilime said they had been carrying out export awareness seminars meant to capacitate SMEs with requisite market and product specific intelligence to penetrate export markets.
“SMEs have also been exposed to regional trade fairs as part of our export promotion programmes. This year ZimTrade will once again facilitate the participation of SMEs in regional trade fairs planned in Zambia and South Africa.
We will launch the rebranded MBIC in Mutare on 25 March 2015 and thereafter, training will be held in Harare, Bulawayo and Kwekwe,” Ms Pilime said.
She said at this year’s edition of the ZITF, ZimTrade would participate under the theme “Energising Zim Exports for Sustainable Growth”.
“Building on this theme, our focus will be on showcasing our revamped Trade Information Centre (which houses the Zimbabwe-European Business Information Centre) and MBIC. The Trade Information resources now feature market analysis tools which include trade map, market access map, standards map and the EU export helpdesk. We will also conduct coaching and demonstration sessions on how to utilise these services at our stand,” said Ms Pilime.
Six companies participated under the ZimTrade banner last year and these were drawn from the clothing, footwear, arts and crafts and engineering sectors.
Meanwhile, at least 40 local business representatives are expected to attend ZimTrade’s Executive Development Programme on International Trade in Bulawayo tomorrow.
ZimTrade is holding the five-day event in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Foreign Trade (IIFT) aimed at capacitating companies in order to develop and enhance their exporting skills.
“About 40 business representatives are expected to attend the business training workshop. The response has been encouraging,” said ZimTrade in a statement.
The IIFT is an institution mandated by the Government of India to conduct customised capacity building programmes on international business in Africa.
The initiative is a result of the India-Africa Summit held in 2008 where it was agreed to implement programmes aimed at accelerating economic growth of African countries.
“ZimTrade is very grateful for the facilitative role being played by the Indian Embassy. Companies in Bulawayo, Matabeleland and the Midlands are urged to participate in this programme,” said the trade organisation.
Online Reporter