The Sunday News
Dickson Mangena, Business Reporter
ABOUT 70 percent of exhibition space made available for the 58th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) has been taken up as the fair takes into priority the nation’s major economic drivers.
Zimbabwe International Trade Fair Company marketing and public relations manager Miss Stella Nkomo said preparations of the show were at an advanced stage with a positive response from the market.
“To date almost 70 percent of space made available for sale has been taken up. Notable so far is the fair representation of the different sectors of the economy especially from its drivers such as agriculture, business services, manufacturing and renewable energy.
“We are at the peak of the marketing campaign targeting both local and international participants,” said Miss Nkomo.
Miss Nkomo said the market’s response so far has been encouraging especially from the international community as 10 countries have confirmed participation.
“The market’s response so far has been encouraging especially from the international community. A total of 10 countries have thus far confirmed participation in ZITF 2017. Of these, the following countries will have national stands; Botswana, Japan, Malawi, Mozambique and Namibia while Iran, China, South Africa, Turkey, India so far are represented by individual companies. As the marketing campaign intensifies we are expecting more foreign bookings especially from the Gulf region,” Miss Nkomo said.
ZITF last had a 27 percent increase in foreign participation.
Miss Nkomo urged aspiring exhibitors to confirm their bookings and use the exhibition to further their businesses.
“We urge our aspiring exhibitors who may still be sitting on the fence to firm up their bookings and to use the exhibition platform to further their business interests. We encourage exhibitors to sign up for the online matchmaking facility which allows them to pre-schedule meetings with their targeted clients and prospects, so as to extract more value from the exhibition,” said Miss Nkomo.
ZITF 2017 is set to be held from 25-29 April where three days have been set aside for business to business trade while the show will be open to the public on the last two days.
It will be running under the theme “Harnessing Linkages for Industrial Development.”
“This theme continues the industrialisation focus of last year and goes a step further by encouraging participants to collaborate, both locally and globally, as we move towards sustained industrial development,” said Miss Nkomo.
