The Sunday News
Business Reporter
THIS year’s 55th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) which ended yesterday experienced a decline in the number of exhibitors and exhibition space occupancy but most of the participants managed to clinch lucrative business deals.
Addressing a press conference yesterday, the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Cde Mike Bimha, said most of the foreign exhibitors expressed gratitude at the way the exhibition had been organised and promised to grace the event next year.
This year’s showcase was opened by President Mugabe and was held under the theme: “New Ideas to New Heights”.
“Preliminary survey results show that most of our exhibitors achieved their business objectives set for ZITF 2014 and will likely be back again next year.
“Exhibitors also indicated that they met the relevant target buyer groups and conducted a fair amount of business, even among themselves,” Cde Bimha said.
The exhibition occupied 44 804 square metres which translated to 90 percent occupancy, a decrease from last year’s 94 percent. This year 599 exhibitors participated compared to 656 recorded last year. The exhibition recorded 149 new exhibitors of which 58 were foreigners and 91 local. However, the number of foreign nations exhibiting increased by two from 16 nations which took part last year to 18.
Cde Bimha blamed the decrease in exhibitors on the liquidity crunch and partly on the change of dates which mostly affected local companies and departments.
The exhibition had been pencilled to be held from May 6 to 10 but had to be moved forward to April 22 to 26.
“The space which you saw vacant was as a result of various factors one being that a number of exhibitors preferred smaller stands because of liquidity challenges. Most of the last minute changes came from our local exhibitors particularly the Government and some of our parastatals due to the fact that the monies they were expecting didn’t come in time,” he said.
Cde Bimha, however, said the reduction of exhibition space by most exhibitors resulted in splendid displays and designs at their stands.
The biggest foreign exhibitors this year were China and South Africa. China occupied over 1 000 square metres from 600 last year, while South Africa increased their space from 700 square metres to 800.
Congo Brazzaville made its maiden appearance at ZITF while the USA was returning after a long absence.
National stands came from Botswana, Brazil, China, Congo Brazzaville, Ethiopia, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Poland, South Africa, USA and Zambia.
India and Italy were represented by individual companies.
“The whole organisation was a lot better as appreciated by the other countries that came to exhibit and our visitors from Congo Brazzaville were more of making a request of some closer collaboration with the ZITF Company because they felt what they are doing and what we are doing here is very miles apart.
“They want to benefit from our experience and I think the ZITF Company will be very pleased to assist them. That’s an indication of where we are despite the challenges we are facing but I think there is that resolve of wanting to go forward,” Cde Bimha said.
ZimTrade Matabeleland regional manager, Mr Similo Nkala said the quality of exhibition at the ZITF was significantly improving each year and closing in to match that of other internationally acclaimed exhibitions.
“In terms of quality there has been a tremendous movement as the displays meet international standards but with regards to business visitors I think there has been a slight drop. However, as ZimTrade we received quite a number of inquiries on our external trade missions namely that of Angola, Tete in Mozambique and the Source Africa for clothing, textile and leather to be held in South Africa,” Mr Nkala said.
Besides locals, business visitors came from Botswana, China, Congo, India, Macau, Pakistan, South Africa, Tanzania, UK and USA.
A number of exhibitors, both foreign and local, that were interviewed by this paper said they managed to receive a number of inquiries and clinched lucrative deals.
“We are certainly going to attend this fair again. We received overwhelming inquiries and even sold some of our products and to say the truth this exhibition meets international standards,” said an official from Congo Brazzaville, Mr Brice Massengo.
Mr Han Bing from the Economic and Commercial Counselor’s Office at the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe, who was leading a Chinese business delegation of 117 business executives and entrepreneurs, said the country had a wide range of investment opportunities which Chinese nationals should explore.
“It’s the third time a business delegation has come to the ZITF and they are doing so to see the real picture of what is transpiring in this country because a lot of lies are being peddled by the Western media.
“However, they have just seen for themselves that Zimbabwe is a peaceful and stable country to invest in and there are plenty of investment opportunities here. I understand that through a visit by one such delegation there are two companies that are operating in the country,” Mr Bing said.
One local exhibitor said through exhibiting at the ZITF, he had seen his business grow.
“Ever since we started exhibiting at the ZITF our business has grown. Showcasing here has seen us attracting a number of new customers over the years and to prove that we managed to sell some of our products from our stand. I am also glad to say that this year we were even honoured as the most outstanding indigenous company in Bulawayo,” said the technical manager of Leaford Electric Rewinds, Mr Orphan Bhiza.
Leaford Electric Rewinds is one of the country’s leading engineering companies majoring in the manufacture of electric power distribution transformers, electric motors and welding machines.
