The Sunday News
Robin Muchetu, Senior Reporter
The Lupane community has been praised for being enterprising and having numerous well-established small and medium enterprises that have the potential to compete in international markets if given the opportunity.
Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Dr Sithembiso Nyoni said it was gratifying to note that communities were working to establish businesses through exploiting resources at their disposal.
She was speaking at the Lupane Business Expo and Careers Day at Somhlolo Stadium in Lupane last Saturday. The expo was held under the theme “Equitable and Quality Business Opportunities for all” which is aligned with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) which seeks to make Zimbabwe an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
Minister Dr Sithembiso Nyoni
“Business expos and careers days have a very fundamental role in making sure the NDS1 vision is a reality by 2030. The Lupane community has lots of small and well-established businesses which have the potential of competing in international markets. The Lupane Business Expo gives local exhibitors an opportunity to market their products and also creates a strong foundation for provincial and national Expos like the Harare Agricultural Show and Zimbabwe International Trade Fair,” said Dr Nyoni.
She applauded various ministries and stakeholders for jointly bringing together business owners and other interested parties in and outside Lupane District, under one banner to present an opportunity to all stakeholders to showcase cutting-edge innovations, products, entrepreneurship skills, and services.
“To this end, the 2023 Lupane business expo will provide a space for micro, small, and medium enterprises to connect, create and accelerate their business ideas and growth,” she said.
Dr Nyoni said the Lupane Business Expo and Careers Day presented an opportunity for all business players and delegates to network with exhibitors, and provide a designated platform and interactive environment for SMEs, academia, learners, farmers, the public and private sector.
“The Expo also grants NGOs, CSOs, and development partners to showcase their products and services that have made remarkable differences in various institutions as well as in the lives of communities they serve,” she added.
The Minister also informed exhibitors that her Ministry was offering loans to women in production and the loans have been very helpful in making sure that small businesses grow.
“The Zimbabwe Community Development Fund and Women Development Fund Loans have been very instrumental in helping businesses reach their potential. Some of the women who have been assisted through the ZCDF and WDF loans by MWACSMED now have established businesses and they are here today exhibiting their products,’ she said.
The Minister said the expo, which is in its second year, plays an important role in fuelling economic growth and driving towards making Zimbabwe open for Business. She said the Zimbabwean economy benefits a lot from business expos as they create conducive environments for small businesses to exhibit and also learn from fellow exhibitors on how best they can improve.
“Exhibitors have benefited from this platform as they have shared ideas on how best they can improve their businesses and also venture into various careers that will help businesses to grow.
“We are in a period where the internet is controlling almost most of the way we do business and my advice to the Lupane community is to go virtual in future business expos to reach the national audience and international markets,” added Dr Nyoni. @NyembeziMu
