The Sunday News
THE country’s premier trade showcase, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) has come and gone.
The curtain came down on the international trade and investment jamboree yesterday, which this year attracted 18 countries compared to 16 last year, a development that exhibited confidence in the Zimbabwean economy, which over the years has agonisingly been suffering from the weight of economic sanctions slapped on the country because of its progressive land reform programme.
We are encouraged by the fact that although the country is still reeling under the effects of the continued sanctions, the response to the trade fair was pleasing as according to the ZITF company, 44 000 out of 51 000 square metres of available space was taken three weeks before the start of the trade showcase.
However, as exhibitors pack their bags we should not lose sight of the importance and advantage that comes with holding the trade fair.
We should bear in mind that trade fairs are organised so that companies in specific industries can showcase and demonstrate their latest products, service, study activities of their rivals and examine recent market trends and opportunities.
It is a fact that trade fairs by their nature involve considerable marketing investments by the participating companies.
The companies should vigorously follow up on business inquiries made during the duration of the trade showcase and should use the opportunity to break new ground and explore new markets as well as consolidate traditional ones.
One of the new markets that is there for the taking is in Congo-Brazzaville where companies from the central African country were at the ZITF for the first time. In fact the President of Congo-Brazzaville, Denis Sassou Nguesso, was supposed to officially open this year’s fair, but could not make it due to pressing issues that cropped up at the last minute.
However, his special envoy, Mr Rhapael Mokoko, who is also that country’s Deputy Minister in charge of Planning said he told President Mugabe when he met him at the ZITF on Friday that his leader was still keen to meet his Zimbabwean counterpart and push for a number of trade initiatives between the two countries.
Mr Mokoko said some of the areas the countries were keen to exploit were in training, education and general economy. According to the African Economic Outlook Congo-Brazzaville is one of the most promising economies in Africa and in 2012 its GDP was $6,983 billion.
It is against this background that we urge our companies and individual business people to take advantage of the interest shown by the leadership of Congo-Brazzaville to open trade avenues with our country by coming to the party as well. However, as a country we should go further and explore business opportunities available in other Francophone African countries.
We believe there is a huge market and vast investment opportunities as shown by the rush to that part of the world by South Africans, Australians, Canadians and other nationals who are investing in sectors such as mining, cotton, banking, rubber plantations, oil and gas. We should not restrict ourselves to our traditional trading partners, after all one needs to take a risk in business. By nature Zimbabweans are a hardworking people and our companies should be innovative by creating new business opportunities instead of sticking with the hostile Western countries.
