The Sunday News
Shepias Dube
GOVERNMENT forked out more than $10 000 to secure exhibition stands for small to medium enterprises at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair that ended yesterday in Bulawayo in a show of commitment to support the sector seen as the fulcrum to anchor the economy.
The supported companies exhibited under the banner of the Ministry of Small to Medium Enterprises and Co-operative Development.
In an interview on Wednesday, the director of business development in the ministry, Mr David Nyakonda, said up to 12 exhibitors from all the 10 provinces were sponsored by Government.
“Small and up-and-coming businesses are the pillars of the economy who continually need support from Government and other stakeholders. It is against this background that we have seen it necessary to support our SMEs by paying for their participation at the ZITF,” he said.
Mr Nyakonda said the ministry decided to assist the SMEs after realising the financial challenges at hand due to the liquidity crisis the country is facing.
He said bringing SMEs to the ZITF was one way of facilitating their growth and expansion.
“We want our up-and-coming businesses to be exposed to international business culture and there is no better place for that than the ZITF,” he said.
The ministry paid about $850 for each exhibitor and the participants were required to pay a commitment fee of $50 and the transport costs for their products.
Meanwhile SMEs that participated at the annual event expressed gratitude to the Ministry of SMEs for facilitating their participation at the fair.
“I am grateful to the Government for making me realise the dream to showcase at a global event like the trade fair. It was indeed an opportunity to exchange ideas with business minded people from all over the world,” said Mr Kizito Mubaiwa of Glazan Investments (Pvt) Ltd who manufactures and repairs gas stoves in Masvingo.
Mr Mubaiwa, who was exhibiting at the event for the first time, said he was impressed by the number of people who showed interest in his products and has managed to clinch 14 orders worth more $3 000 from the tourism sector.
Most of the orders were from lodge owners in Harare and Masvingo who prefer using gas stoves for cooking due to erratic power supplies.
Mr Spenser Mderemani the general manager of Kombani Africa Lodge which is located in the Plumtree border town said his presence at the ZITF helped him to market the Lodge to cross-border traders who use the Plumtree border post.
“My participation at ZITF has helped me create a sound relationship with cross-border traders who frequently visit Botswana and Namibia and I am now expecting more business from them,” he said.
Mr Mderemani said Government should continue supporting small to medium enterprises as they had proved to be the backbone of the economy.
This year’s eddition of ZITF was dominated by small and up-and-coming enterprises.
Besides SMEs who exhibited under the parent ministry, there were many more under the Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Women Affairs and Zanu-PF department of Business Development and Liaison.
Zanu-PF director of economic affairs Mrs Betty Mtero said SMEs which were affiliated to the party were excited to be exhibiting at the trade fair.
“ZITF is idle platform for business development and naturally we are excited that we have managed to expose our people to numerous business opportunities,” she said.
