Staff Reporter
Local and foreign exhibitors showcasing their products at the on-going 63rd Edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), in Bulawayo, have acknowledged and commended the business operating environment in the country, describing it as conducive for any form of investment.
Speaking to this publication yesterday, Kenyan Head of Chancery, Lazarus Muganda, said Kenya enjoyed economic relations with Zimbabwe. He added that Zimbabwe was a peaceful nation; hence Kenyan companies operating locally appreciate the business operating environment in the country.
Muganda further stated that ZITF was Kenya’s annual event as his country had been exhibiting since 2021. He added that in 2022, Kenya and Zimbabwe held a third session of the Joint Permanent Commission for Cooperation (JPCC) in Nairobi, citing that the two (2) will conduct a review of JPCC in the near future.
Furthermore, Malawi's First Secretary for Trade, Charity Mlombwa commended the business environment in Zimbabwe, citing that the ZITF has been helping Malawian businesses to get to know how other traders would be operating.
On its part, Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) said Zimbabwe’s business environment was impressive.
ZDA Investment Promotion Officer, Luyando Mooya said they were seven (7) Zambian companies exhibiting at ZITF, which among others included Agriculture and Commercial Cooperative Society of Zambia, Lusaka Green Projects Investments Ltd and Plant Agrichem.
A wide range of products from both local and foreign exhibitors being exhibited at the ZITF include agricultural equipment, automotive products, building and construction, civic representation, clothing and textile, education and training, energy products and food products.
The ZITF is one of the largest intra-regional trade fairs in sub-Saharan Africa. The annual multi-national expo provides a convenient trade hub for the region.
The international response to the 2023 ZITF increased to 21 foreign nations, which directly exhibited as compared to 16 foreign nations which exhibited in 2022. The 2023 ZITF is running under theme "Transformative, Innovation, Global Competitiveness."
