The Sunday News
Kiyapili Sibanda, Business Reporter
MORE than 100 exhibitors have so far confirmed participation at this year’s mining, engineering and transport (Mine Entra) exhibition.
Organisers say up to 3 500 square metres of exhibition space has already been taken up as preparations for the specialised showcase gather momentum. Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) company marketing and public relations manager Miss Stella Nkomo said preparations for the event were at an advanced stage with bookings continuing to come.
“With two weeks to go to the 22nd edition of Zimbabwe’s largest gathering of mining professionals and stakeholders, preparations for the event are now at an advanced stage. As organisers, we are happy with the campaign progress to date. Interest from the market has been high and bookings continue to come on a daily basis,” said Miss Nkomo.
“To date, over 100 exhibitors have confirmed participation by taking up 3 500 square metres of exhibition space. This represents a comparative 16,6 percent increase in space sales from the same time last year.”
This year’s exhibition will run from 19-20 July under the theme, “Exploring Linkages in the Mining Value Chain.”
She said this theme seeks to highlight the potential, opportunities and growth prospects throughout the mining value chain and its related sectors. Miss Nkomo said they expected 200 exhibitors. The Mine Entra event will run alongside the Small Scale Miners’ Conferences, which is expected to attract 100 delegates. As such, she said they have increased the number of knowledge-sharing platforms during the show.
“As a value-addition to the exhibition, this year we have increased the number of knowledge-sharing platforms during the show. Mine Entra 2017 will therefore feature a broad range of discussions on substantive and topical mining issues. There is a Women in Mining Breakfast meeting, Young Professionals Forum, Mine Entra conference, official opening cocktail, charity golf challenge, Small-scale and Artisanal Miners Conference,” said Miss Nkomo.
She said the objective of the Mine Entra was to provide an integral business and networking platform for the mining industry and its supporting sectors by bringing together the ‘‘who is who’’ of the relevant sectors under one roof.
“The platform has never been more relevant than it is now as the mining sector today reflects a changing pattern of international trade; one that recognises that mining is no longer just a matter of digging up holes in the ground and exporting resources, but now includes value-addition and other downstream benefits,” said Miss Nkomo.
She also said Mine Entra provides a platform to interrogate the available opportunities in the mining value.
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