Zim shows great interest in IATF2021

Business Reporter

Zimbabwean firms have shown great interest in participating at the second Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF2021) a platform that is seen as a unique opportunity for the country to communicate its trade opportunities to continental peers. 

At least 34 local businesses are expected to headline the continent’s biggest trade indaba and improve the visibility of Zimbabwe’s products to a market, estimated to have more than 1,2 billion consumers.

Apart from ZimTrade, which is leading the development of the Zimbabwe pavilion, the local delegation also includes Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA), Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), and Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI).  

According to Zimbabwe’s trade development and promotion agency, ZimTrade, participating companies include small businesses, women-led and youth led businesses drawn from sectors such as horticulture, processed foods, construction and engineering, agricultural inputs and implements, clothing and textile, packaging and printing, arts and crafts, and electrical. 

Participating companies are also drawn from services sectors such as tourism and hospitality, and banking. 

Organised by the African Export-Import Bank (Afreximbank) in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat, IATF2021 will take place in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, from 15 to 21 November 2021.

The trade show, is expected to attract more than 1 000 exhibitors, more than 10,000 visitors, buyers and conference participants from all 55 African countries and the rest of the world. 

More than US$40 billion in trade and investment deals are expected to be closed.

The first edition of the Intra-African Trade Fair took place in 2018 in Cairo, Egypt. 

It attracted over 2 500 conference delegates and over 1 000 exhibitors from 45 countries and resulted in over US$32 billion worth of trade and investment deals. IATF20218 was credited by the AU as the first deliverable of the AfCFTA even before the agreement entered into force.

ZimTrade chief executive office, Allan Majuru is on record saying the participation of local businesses at the IATF will contribute towards successful implementation of the National Development Strategy (NDS1), which already identifies exports as a key enabler to economic growth. 

“As the country is pursuing an economic agenda that is anchored on increasing exports through diversifying markets and its products, the scheduled trade fair will provide sustainable platform that will see improved exports to the rest of the continent,” said Mr Majuru.