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Wallace Ruzvidzo
Herald Reporter
EVERYTHING is in place for Zimbabwe’s successful participation at Expo 2025 Osaka which kicks off on April 13 in Japan, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Permanent Secretary Mr Nick Mangwana has said.
During the six-month long expo, Zimbabwe, which will exhibit under the theme “Beyond Limits”, will seek to promote trade, investment and the country’s tourism sector.
In an update on the preparations, Mr Mangwana said current indications pointed at Zimbabwe’s successful participation.
The Zimbabwe Pavilion Commissioner General, Mr Allan Majuru, is participating at the ongoing International Participants Meeting being held in Himeji, Japan.
“The International Participants Meeting (IPM) for Expo 2025 Osaka is currently underway in Himeji, located in the Kansai Province of Japan.
“The meeting gathers representatives from various nations to discuss final preparations and collaboration ahead of the global event.
“Mr Allan Majuru, the Commissioner General of the Zimbabwe Pavilion, shared that feedback from Expo organisers indicates they are on track to complete all preparations ahead of the official opening on April 13,” said Mr Mangwana.
Mr Majuru said all the necessary work was being done to ensure Zimbabwe actualises its aspirations during the expo.
“So, this is our last meeting before the event starts on 13 April and everything is going according to plan.
“I think the organisers are facilitating for us to put our best foot forward and the good thing is we are putting in place a pavilion that will help Zimbabwe actualise its aspirations and our focus is going to be on promoting tourism, trade and investment. Remember, we are focused on visiting, trading and investing,” he said.
The Expo 2025 Osaka, said Mr Majuru, was not just a platform for Zimbabwe to attract trade and investments, but was also an opportunity for the country to shape its narrative.
“So, we have set goals that we need to achieve when the Expo is finished. So, I think with what we have seen today and what is happening during the course of this meeting, we are quite confident that as a country we are going to come back with massive returns focusing on trade, tourism and investment.
“This is not only a place for us to look at trade in this country, but it’s a place which we are going to use to sell our narrative. People need to know what is Zimbabwe, what are we doing, where we are coming from and where we are going.
“But also, it is going to be a platform for us to learn international best practice, so that we can see how best we can engage with our partners when we do business,” he said.
Once Zimbabwe has participated in the Expo, Mr Majuru, who is also the chief executive officer of ZimTrade, said the general citizenry will be apprised on what the country will have derived from its participation.
“Business is about learning each other’s culture. So, the trade is going to be two-way, investment is also going to be two-way. So, we hope that by the end of the Expo in October, we will be able to do a proper evaluation to give feedback to Zimbabweans what we have gained from our participation,” he said.
The Expo expects 28,2 million visitors, with business visitors expected to make up around 40 percent mainly from Asia, Europe, and the Americas, while the remaining 60 percent will be potential tourists.
Online Reporter