Christine Lethokuhle Mabhena
The 5-day long 60th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) which took place in Bulawayo, the country’s second largest city from 23- 27 April 2019 was a major success with various local and international exhibitors showcasing their products and services to the multitudes of people who thronged the historic exhibition arena.
The trade showcase was bigger and better with all the available space taken up, forcing organisers to pitch tents outside halls to accommodate more than 100 exhibitors. Uptake of space at the exhibition centre topped a high of 57 732 square metres when compared to a low of 47 612 square metres in 2016.
Certainly, the trade showcase put Zimbabwe on the world map with 16 countries participating after taking heed of the President Mnangagwa’s mantra ‘Zimbabwe is open for business.’
532 direct local exhibitors booked for the fair compared to 491 who graced the last year’s event. 16 percent were first time exhibitors who displayed a wide range of products and services that included 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.
From the international exhibitors, a special mention goes to the Belarus business delegation who exhibited under the ‘Made in Belarus’ country pavilion stand. Led by their chairman of the Belarus Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Vladmir Ulakhovich, the Belarussians showed strong desire to do business in Zimbabwe under the new dispensation.
Their commitment to invest in the country was capped when Mr Ulakhovich signed a memorandum of understanding with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Mr Tamuka Macheka, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president during the Zimbabwe- Belarus Business Networking Forum which was held on the side-lines of the trade fair.
Also taking a cue from the ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ mantra, South African companies expressed much interest in investing in the country with one, Ilangabi Infrastructure Solutions for Africa, represented by Johannesburg based entrepreneur, Dr Cedric Cele indicating that they have US$6 billion funding earmarked for investment in basic infrastructure that will unlock the economy.
Currently, the country presents more opportunities for foreigners as it has many projects under the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP).
The major highlight of the trade jamboree was the ZITF 2019 International Business Conference held on 24 April 2019, which was graced by over 800 delegates drawn from government, academia, private sector and international business visitors. At this high level symposium, government and private sector pledged to iron out their differences and work together to improve lives of Zimbabweans.
Other highlights included the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI)/ ZITF buyer-seller platform which was a forum that presented an opportunity for business-to-business engagement between industrialists and suppliers of production equipment and technologies, the ZITF charity golf challenge, an annual tourney which raised funds towards Cyclone Idai and the ZITF Innovators Forum, a platform where young innovators showcased their inventions.
To spice up this year’s trade exhibition, the guest of honour was none other than the Ugandan strongman, President Yoweri Museveni who last visited Harare in 1989. In his address, President Museveni underscored the need for the West to remove sanctions imposed on Zimbabwe and also urged the country to leverage on its God given resources to revive the economy.
When the curtains came down on the last day of the historic event which ran under the theme “propagating industrial growth trade and investment” had truly lived to its expectations as it was a resounding success for all Zimbabweans from all the corners of our beloved nation.
