Sundaymail Editor
The Nyaradzo Funeral Services UK annual UK Trade and Investment Fair kicked off on Thursday at Nyaradzo House in Letchworth Garden City, Hertfordshire. The investment fair which will run till tomorrow (September 18) fits perfectly into Zimbabwe’s Government vision of promoting trade and investment.
Over 400 people are expected to participate at the Trade and Investment Fair, including companies from South Africa, the UK and Zimbabwe.
The Sunday Mail’s Assistant Editor Roselyne Sachiti (RS) speaks to the brains behind the Trade and Investment Fair, Nyaradzo Group CEO, Mr Phillip Mataranyika (PM). Below are excerpts of the interview.
RS: What motivated the idea of hosting the Nyaradzo Funeral Services UK annual Trade and Investment Fair?
PM: Our Vision, as Nyaradzo Group, is that of becoming “…the preferred provider of total insurance risk and events management solutions through sustainable, dynamic and innovative products delivered to world-class standards, globally.” Consistent with that desire to participate at a global scale, we have taken our brand into Africa’s largest economy, South Africa, and across the oceans into the United Kingdom, with plans in the pipeline to extend our footprint into other territories. The UK Trade and Investment Fair is therefore serving as a double-edged sword for us in the sense that it provides a platform through which we can showcase the investment we have made in the UK to Zimbabweans who reside in that country while also serving them closer to their doorstep. At the same time, the UK Trade and Investment Fair provides a window through which companies in the UK and in Zimbabwe can peep into opportunities they can exploit on either side.
RS: Why is this fair important?
PM: The UK Trade and Investment Fair fits perfectly into the government’s vision of promoting trade and investment, particularly between Zimbabwe and the UK. At some point, Zimbabwe was the UK’s second largest trading partner, but not anymore. We are now ranked number 138, which is not in any way reflective of the immense potential for trade and investment between the two countries. Just as well, the Second Republic under His Excellency President Emmerson Mnangagwa has made Zimbabwe’s re-integration into the international community a key part of its agenda. As Nyaradzo Group, we are therefore heeding the call by the President to engage and re-engage by creating that enabling environment or launch pad for businesses in either country to do business with each other, taking advantage of the historical ties that exist between Zimbabwe and the UK.
RS: Was it all smooth sailing during your preparations?
PM: It is usually difficult to do anything for the first time. This wasn’t the case for us. What we found pleasing, amongst other things, was to see the Second Republic’s call being put into action as staff at the Zimbabwean Embassy worked flat out to process passport applications, including during weekends. The UK’s Department of International Trade also played its part through the processing of visa applications, thus making it smooth for the exhibitors to travel from Zimbabwe to the United Kingdom. No doubt, there is a meeting of minds with regards to the importance of the fair in promoting trade and investment between the two countries, which is crucial in our collective efforts to create jobs and generate more revenues for our two nations.
RS: How many exhibitors took part and was the attendance what you expected?
PM: We had seven exhibitors, namely Nyaradzo Funeral Services, Stanbic Bank, Pinnacle Properties, Kingfisher Prints, Mukuru, Beta Bricks and Avelyn Collections. On the first day of the trade and investment fair, just under a hundred people turned up with the number expected to pick up thereafter, reaching about 400 on Saturday and the same number on Sunday. Considering this was our first exhibition, the turnout far exceeded our expectations.
RS: Please take us through the first day. What were the major highlights?
PM: While we were expecting a slow start to the trade and investment fair, we were pleasantly surprised when our first five attendees entered our gates 30 minutes before the official start of the event, reflecting how much they had looked forward to the showcase. From then on, there was a steady flow of visitors to the exhibition, which has been getting better with each passing day. Amid reports that bricks were in short supply back home in Zimbabwe, there was considerable interest in Beta Bricks, and their presence helped dispel the rumours. Other exhibitors were also excited with the enquiries they got so much that they have already committed to participating at the next fair in 2023.
RS: What are the takeaways and learning opportunities?
PM: Now that we are aiming to make the trade and investment fair bigger and better, we shall be exploring more options for us to take on board more companies from Zimbabwe so that they too can interact with the diasporan community and market their products to this captive market. We shall also be reaching out to companies in the UK for them to explore opportunities in Zimbabwe, which has so much to offer in the area of mining, agriculture, tourism, agriculture etc. We shall be starting the preparations early as we had to turn away a number of other companies whose requests for participation landed on our desks late. We shall also be seeking partnerships, including with media, so that we are able to livestream the event and allow those Zimbabweans who can’t make it to interact with the exhibitors virtually. We will also consider extending the days from four to five to give communities in the UK more time and flexibility to attend considering that most of them must strike a balance between child care and work.
RS: Your parting shot?
PM: Now that we shall be having this event on an annual basis, the UK Trade and Investment Fair is something you should look out for on your calendar. Watch that space!
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