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Lovemore Chikova Development Dialogue
The on-going 62nd Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF 2022) that will be officially opened by President Mnangagwa today is a good indicator of the successes being scored by the New Dispensation.
The mega exhibition, which is held in Bulawayo annually, is this year running from April 26 and closes tomorrow, under the theme: “Rethink, Reimagine, Reinvent Value Chains for Economic Development”.
The theme itself is appropriate and reflects the correct position on Zimbabwe’s development trajectory, which is anchored on industrialisation and modernisation of the economy.
A lot of re-thinking on development policy has taken place since the New Dispensation came into effect in November 2017.
This has resulted in a number of policy interventions aimed at establishing strong building blocks of the economy being instituted.
There has been rigorous evaluation of interventions in the development trajectory of the country, and many of these are already yielding positive results.
Reimagining the economy has all to do with the New Dispensation’s endeavours to establish a Zimbabwe that we all have been imagining.
It is already happening in development that the country is now having the roads that people desire, the airports, power stations, water bodies and many other utilities that can be relied upon.
It is an economy where, through devolution, wealth will be circulating within communities for the benefit of improving locals’ livelihoods.
The theme is also appropriate in that it mentions reinventing value chains for economic development.
Value chains have a huge potential to help the country achieve development and industrialisation, as envisaged by the New Dispensation under Vision 2030 of establishing an upper middle income economy.
It is important that the Second Republic has been upgrading the economic value chains through different means, including the establishment of innovation hubs at various centres throughout the country.
These innovation hubs can help with innovations that can push forward industrial growth through technological advancements.
It is also important for Zimbabwe to participate in global value chains, especially through beneficiation and value addition of local products for them to become competitive.
The theme for ZITF 2022 was in this case appropriate and captured the interest and aspirations of Zimbabwe when it comes to development.
Another milestone being scored by ZITF is its potential to attract exhibitors from various countries throughout the world.
In fact, there are at least 14 foreign nations exhibiting at the premier showcase and these are: Angola, Botswana, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania, Zambia, Belarus, Britain, Indonesia and Japan.
These are countries from diverse backgrounds and offering various opportunities for establishing synergies with Zimbabwe when it comes to economic development.
Above all, the presence of these countries at ZITF 2022 attests to the successes of the New Dispensation’s engagement and re-engagement efforts.
The foreign countries participating could have been more if it was not for the devastating Covid-19 that is still troubling the world.
It is envisaged that these participating exhibitors will help break the barriers created by Covid-19 as the world battles to entangle itself from disruptions it has caused.
The engagement and re-engagement policy is anchored on the mantra that Zimbabwe is Open for Business, where those with capital are encouraged to invest in the country.
The policy on the opening up of Zimbabwe is being aided by the creation of a conducive environment that makes capital feel comfortable.
The presence of exhibitors from various countries is an endorsement of the efforts that the Government has been instituting in engaging and re-engaging other countries.
Many countries are now beginning to understand Zimbabwe and especially its Government’s desire to ensure it takes its rightful position in economic development.
There is no doubt that the foreign exhibitors at ZITF will carry the Zimbabwean story to their countries and help enhance Zimbabwe’s standing in the eyes of capital.
This will ultimately promote trade between Zimbabwe and other countries, and help link businesses in the world.
Participants at the trade fair were confirmed to be at 514, including the foreign exhibitors, with 71 of them being first timers.
This huge number shows that ZITF is growing phenomenally despite the threats caused by Covid-19.
The participation of local companies in symposiums being held concurrently with the trade fair is important that everyone is being afforded an opportunity to be heard on what they think is the way forward in terms of the country’s economic development.
What is also important about ZITF 2022 is the holding of the Scholastica Conference and the Innovators’ Forum, alongside the proceedings at the fair.
The Scholastica Conference was under the theme: “Economic Development Through Innovation and Heritage: Promoting Talent and Skills-based Education”.
This is obviously in line with the New Dispensation’s introduction of Education 5.0, which aims at closing the gap in industrial progress by producing graduates relevant to the needs of the economy through offering skills.
Through Education 5.0, the New Dispensation has overhauled the education system and Government has since approved a policy to avail one percent of the Gross Domestic Product towards Research and Development, to move forward the new thrust of innovative tertiary education.
A step further was taken to establish innovation hubs, industrial and technological parks in a bid to provide a conducive environment for the support of new innovations expected to have an impact on the economy.
It is important that whatever innovative ideas come out of these incubation hubs are easily adopted by industry for further development and eventual application to further industrialisation and modernisation.
The Scholastica Conference was centred on these issues, especially the bridging of the gap that traditionally existed in which the education system was producing graduates not fit for transforming the economy through innovation.
It is clear that the New Dispensation’s developmental agenda is centred on innovation and the use of locally available resources to change the Zimbabwean story.
Modernisation goes hand-in-hand with the upgrading of the education system so that it becomes biased towards vocational and scientific training.
The Innovators’ Forum at ZITF is another relevant meeting to finding solutions to the development of Zimbabwe.
According to the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company, this forum is dedicated to bringing young entrepreneurs together to highlight local innovations, network and exchange knowledge in a bid to revive industry.
It helps promote and highlight innovations from various sectors by local youth entrepreneurs to facilitate industrial and economic growth and equips and empowers the youths to cultivate an entrepreneurial spirit for job creation.
Small to medium enterprises were also not left out at ZITF, emphasising their importance to the development of the country.
Their presence gives them an opportunity to strike deals that bring their potential to the fore and become more relevant to the country’s aspirations.
Already, these small business employ a lot of people with the relevant skills, but their growth is stifled mainly because of lack of capital for investment in major projects.
Their story can change if they are connected to markets and linked with investors, and that is exactly what the ZITF 2022 sought to achieve.
The importance of ZITF 2022 cannot be underestimated, and just like any other international trade fair, the aim is to promote trade and investment.
Trade fairs are known to bring businesses from different parts of the world where deals are sealed and new information acquired.
They provide an excellent opportunity to assess opinions from clients and determine market potential, conduct research and evaluate competition, develop commercial structures by identifying new agents and distributors, and initiating joint ventures and project partnerships.
A lot of networking was done at ZITF 2022 and the fruits will start being realised in the coming weeks.
For those participating at the ZITF this year, they should consider themselves strategic enough to understand the importance of such a fair in enhancing business.
The ZITF is hosted by the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company at its exhibition centre which encompasses a 17-hectare site situated close to Bulawayo’s central business district.
There are six specialised exhibition halls, hundreds of individual pavilions and open-air expo facilities at the centre, which are all fully serviced and equipped.
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