The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Senior Business Reporter
@DNsingo
THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company has embarked on a series of roadshows aimed at marketing and attracting companies for this year’s 21st edition of the Mine Entra exhibition to be held next month.
This year, the expo will run from 20 to 22 July under the theme, “Unearthing Opportunities”. ZITF Company marketing and public relations manager Ms Stella Nkomo said the Mine Entra 2016 exhibitor recruitment drive which began last year was now at its peak.
“Over the past month the organisers of the exhibition, ZITF Company, have intensified the campaign by conducting a series of road shows so far covering Harare, Gweru, Kwekwe and surrounding areas,” she said.
Ms Nkomo said 60 companies, including suppliers of pipes and fittings, mining spares and components, bolts, batteries, breakers, safety equipment and protective wear, cleaning materials, electric motor, tires, v-belts, screens, water pumps, compressors as well as companies in the building and construction and transport sectors have been covered since the marketing drive started.
“The roadshows are part of the company’s stakeholder engagement initiatives where current and potential exhibitors meet face-to-face with the organisers representatives to discuss ways in which the Mine Entra platform can be improved to the maximum benefit of all stakeholders. Encouraging feedback has been received during the visits and participants can look forward to seeing a rollout of these value-adding initiatives, in this and, in future editions of the show,” said Ms Nkomo.
She said the visits to companies would be followed up by an Exhibitors Training Seminar on 28 June.
“Exhibition space is still available and we invite specialised companies supplying exploration, extraction, processing or beneficiation machinery and training requirements for the mining sector, as well as suppliers of equipment and machinery relating to the engineering and transport of mining resources to take part,” said Ms Nkomo.
She said a number of conferences and workshops have also be lined-up which will offer unique opportunities for senior representatives from the regional mining industry, development partners and other stakeholders to network, share experiences and discuss best practices through case studies while addressing opportunities, challenges and other pertinent issues affecting the sectors.
“The Mine Entra Conference, which is scheduled for the second day of the event, will tackle issues to do with current policy initiatives including but not limited to; discussing current fiscal and monetary policies effects on the industry, from both a central government and industry perspective. Assessing Zimbabwean mining sector’s progress with regards the topical issues of value addition and beneficiation, what the challenges and recommendations are. Organisers of this year’s Zimbabwe Small-Scale and Artisanal Miners Conference are expected to grow the event and make it an effective platform for the relative mining community sector.
“Mine Entra is endorsed by the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe. This has always boosted the expo as participants get a chance to interface with high-level policy makers and make contributions to policy initiatives. Online business visitor registration is open and the Mine Entra 2016 mobile app is also ready for download,” said Ms Nkomo.
