ZITF participation satisfactory: Nkomo

Conrad Mwanawashe in BULAWAYO
The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair enters its second business day today with organisers expressing satisfaction with the level of participation, the number or business visitors and improved foreign presence at this year’s premier showcase.

ZITF company chairman Mr Bekithemba Nkomo told a press briefing that 19 foreign nations are exhibiting at this year’s fair.

Switzerland returns to ZITF after a 20-year sabbatical while Cyprus is making a maiden appearance at the show. Both countries have universities taking part in the Scholastica exhibition running concurrently with ZITF.

“We are happy with the way that the event has started. We are pleased with the participation of visitors and the number of business visitors that have been coming in. We are particularly happy with the improved foreign participation. There is a fair amount of excitement from the foreign contingent,” said Mr Nkomo.

Zimbabwe is currently improving the doing business environment to attract foreign investors and the increasing numbers of foreign participation at the showcase is testimony to the efforts Government has invested in luring Foreign Direct Investment.

Today’s major highlight is the International Business Conference where close to 400 business leaders, foreign dignitaries, Government Ministers and officials as well as representatives of academia and civil society have registered to attend the symposium.

Vice President Emmerson Mnangagwa will deliver a keynote address on “Accelerated Implementation of Zim-Asset through Value Addition and Beneficiation”.

Value addition and beneficiation are a key pillar of Zim-Asset as Government puts focus on exploiting maximum benefits and discourages export of primary goods.

The business conference is organised in partnership with the National Economic Consultative Forum and other stakeholders. The business conference will be followed by the official opening set for tomorrow. Zambian President Edgar Lungu is expected to officiate. He will be accompanied by the patron of the ZITF, President Mugabe.

This year’s edition of the ZITF is running under the theme “Stimulating Exports: Seizing Opportunities to Accelerate Growth under Zim-Asset”.

The objective of this year’s symposium is to deliberate on ways to invigorate exports as a path to economic growth and development.

The Embassy of Japan is also returning to the exhibition after a long absence and is among the 31 foreign exhibitors at this year’s showcase compared to last year’s 27.

“We are pleased to welcome back traditional foreign exhibitors who have become signature attractions at the show. These include: China, Botswana, Ethiopia, Indonesia, India, Iran, Kenya, Germany, Namibia, Pakistan, Poland, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, US and Zambia,” said Mr Nkomo.

In total 404 direct exhibitors are participating. This compares favourably with last year’s closing total of 396. Already 20 A’sambeni buyers from Poland, South Africa and US have arrived in Bulawayo.

“The MICE buyers spent this morning meeting A’sambeni exhibitors and familiarising themselves on Zimbabwe’s tourism products so that they can market it and bring in more business tourism events to the country,” said Mr Nkomo.