The Sunday News
Dumisani Nsingo, Business Reporter
THE Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company has launched its marketing campaign for the 2016 exhibition aimed at attracting more foreign participation and increasing buyer-centric focus.
The 57th edition of the ZITF exhibition will be held from 26 to 30 April under the theme: Innovate, Integrate, Industrialise.
ZITF Company general manager Mrs Nomathemba Ndlovu said next year’s theme was aimed at encouraging various economic players in the country and the African continent as a whole to shift from reliance on natural resources to increased investment in manufacturing processes to resuscitate and revitalise industries as well as to create sustainable value-chains.
“The event theme is not just meant to be relevant to Zimbabwe but will resonate with peers from across the country’s borders. So key is the industrialisation agenda that earlier this year, Sadc (Southern Africa Development Community) ratified its Industrialisation Strategy and Road Map, which seeks to ensure that the bloc achieves some level of parity in terms of industrialisation as well as to ensure that the region transitions to own beneficiation and processing to extract full benefits from exporting processed and manufactured goods,” she said.
In-line with the theme’s thrust, Mrs Ndlovu said ZITF 2016 would feature focus sectors such as machinery and expertise for infrastructure development (energy, road, rail, water and sanitation), innovative processes and equipment for value-addition in agriculture, construction, mining and manufacturing.
“Exhibitors in these and other highlighted sectors are invited to take advantage of the integral networking and sourcing platform offered by ZITF 2016 and confirm their participation. Stands are already being allocated within their various product groupings.
“We encourage participants to take advantage of early-booking rates. Marketing and advertising of the event has begun in earnest with an aggressive exhibitor and visitor recruitment drive, targeting both local and international participants,” Mrs Ndlovu said.
The ZITF Company has also set sights at creating more opportunities for industry players to access new markets through encouraging companies to be visible at the exhibition so as to build confidence and reflect that industry was still operational.
She said the company was seeking to encourage representation from local industry in other cities besides Harare and Bulawayo to enable visitors to get a full appreciation of what the country as a whole has to offer.
“We are working towards attracting participation from more countries and improving the quality of the actual exhibits. The international campaign was launched by personal visits to foreign diplomatic missions in Zimbabwe to invite exhibitors, business visitor delegations as well as participants in the concurrent networking sessions.”
Mrs Ndlovu said some of the countries that have shown keen interest and are still to confirm their bookings include Botswana, Brazil, China, Cyprus, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Pakistan, Russia, South Africa, the United Arab Emirates and Zambia.
“The company continues to seek linkages with world-wide Chambers of Commerce and Industry to encourage their members to bring appropriate technology to Zimbabwe,” Mrs Ndlovu said.
ZITF 2016 would provide industry buyers with the opportunity to do business with local suppliers in an organised and efficient environment while engaging in technical and information exchange.
“To this end, the company is working with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce as well as local business bodies to organise targeted delegations, both local and foreign, to attend the show. One-on-one meetings will be organised with interested exhibitors to ensure that we get the right visitor to the right exhibition stand. Targeted buyers include representatives from businesses seeking new sources of raw materials, goods and services, potential investors and financiers, distributors and other supply chain players such as independent wholesale and retail chains,” Mrs Ndlovu said.
Key events to take place at the show include the ZITF International Business Conference that would be organised in conjunction with the National Economic Consultative forum on 27 April and the official opening ceremony on 29 April.
“With regards to content, the ZITF Company is collaborating with the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) to revive the manufacturing workshops that used to take place many years ago during the ZITF. An industry forum is planned for 28 April focusing on mechanisation and industry re-tooling.
“The CZI also plan to invite their counterparts from Botswana, Zambia, Mozambique and South Africa to explore possibilities of setting up regional value chains. We believe this is something that local industry will find very beneficial,” Mrs Ndlovu said.
Next year’s ZITF would have three business days, 26-28 April, and would be opened to the public on the last two days, 29-30 April.
To close the business days, the ZITF Charity Golf Challenge will be played on 28 April. As the norm, the Bulawayo Agricultural Show would run concurrently with the ZITF.
