Derick Tsimba
The 2019 edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) has attracted more than 500 exhibitors which will showcase their businesses in Bulawayo, the ZITF Chairperson has said.
Speaking today during the ZITF final preparations media briefing in Bulawayo, ZITF Chairperson Ruth Ncube said 532 exhibitors had been booked this year.
“Participation figures for the exhibition are quite pleasing, 532 direct local exhibitors have been booked compared with 491 at the same time last year. Our targeted 2019 available space was taken up at 100%. Further to that, we availed 5% additional space 2648 square metres to accommodate the overflow,” said Ncube.
Out of 532 exhibitors this year, 16% are first-time exhibitors who are displaying their different products ranging from education services, agriculture equipment to food manufacturing, said the ZITF Chairperson.
“Of these, 16% are first time exhibitors displaying a wide range of products and services including printing and packaging, tourism, education services and advocacy, agriculture equipment, media and advertising, ICT, food manufacturing, air conditioning and refrigeration, furniture as well as clothing and textile,” she said.
Ncube also said 16 foreign countries were participating this year compared to 17 that participated last year.
“Sixteen countries are participating compared to 17 last year. Countries participating include Nigeria, Namibia, Mauritius, Botswana, Ethiopia, Malaysia, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, Belarus, Germany, United States of America and United Arab Emirates (UAE).
“In terms of geographical mix, 55% of confirmed local exhibitors are from Harare, 25% are from Bulawayo, 15% from other towns and 5% are foreign,” she said.
ZITF 2019 will be running from 23 to 27 April. Business days will be between 23-25 April. Interested business visitors are encouraged to remember the free online pre-registration which will end today at midnight. However, interested business visitors can pay $30 to access the exhibition centre on any of the business days.
