20 SMEs to showcase at the trade fair

26 Apr, 2015 - 00:04 0 Views

The Sunday News

Shepias Dube Business Reporter
ABOUT 20 small to medium enterprises are expected to participate at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair which starts in Bulawayo on Tuesday, a Cabinet minister has said. In an interview, Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development Minister Cde Sithembiso Nyoni said the SMEs would be drawn from all sectors of the economy.

“We are expecting more than 20 SMEs from all sectors of the economy to exhibit at ZITF. The number is divided equally among the 10 provinces in the country,” she said.

Cde Nyoni said a workshop on how to brand products would be held on the sidelines of ZITF and 40 SMEs had since confirmed attendance.
“The workshop shall be attended by key stakeholders such as the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (Zimra), local authorities and relevant departments within the Ministry of Home Affairs. It seeks to capacitate SMEs with knowledge and skills necessary to boost their businesses,” Cde Nyoni said.

An official in the chamber of SMEs Mr Shakemore Museve said SMEs were excited over the idea of participating at the ZITF as it would afford them an opportunity to mingle with like-minded people from all over the world and market their products.

“Naturally we are happy that once again the ministry has facilitated our participation at this year’s trade fair and we are going there in full force to show the world what the informal sector is capable of doing,” he said.

Mr Museve said SMEs would take this opportunity to understand the needs of both the domestic and international markets, as well as have an appreciation of the global economic landscape.

He appealed to Cde Nyoni to negotiate with organisers of ZITF for more space for small and up-and-coming enterprises as this would enhance their businesses.

Meanwhile, Minister Nyoni, who is also Zanu-PF Secretary for Business Development and Liaison, said her department would be participating at this year’s trade fair.

“For the first time in the history of the party, the Department of Business Development and Liaison will be having a stand at ZITF. We want to promote the culture of business in our members and we have since invited three businesses from each province to come and showcase their products at our stand,” the Zanu-PF Politburo member said.

She said the mandate of her department was to show the business side of Zanu-PF and there was no better place to do that than the trade fair.
Cde Nyoni said she had invited other departments in the Politburo to come and meet the business community.

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