ZITF to buttress NDS1 targets

Industry leaders and other stakeholders are optimistic that the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) will provide a platform for brisk business as it approaches.

Business leaders are convinced that the ZITF this year will strengthen their operations as they look into new export markets for their goods.

From the 25th to the 29th of this month, the 63rd ZITF will take place with the focus on “Continuous Innovation and Global Competitiveness.”

Zimbabwe is concentrating on developing an export-led economy as part of National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1), and this year’s ZITF theme aims to support this goal.

Industrialists think that the ZITF 2023 subject is particularly appropriate because it touches on the fundamentals of the 2030 national goal and its present NDS1 medium-term plan.

The only option to boost the economy of Zimbabwe is to make locally produced goods more competitive by increasing manufacturing sector capacity and capacity utilisation.

The ZITF board chair, Busisa Moyo, declared that the nation’s premier trade fair would be improved and expanded.

“In terms of exhibitor numbers, we are currently sitting at 533 direct exhibitors, which is 27 percent higher than last year’s closing total of 420 direct exhibitors and 13 percent higher than the booking situation at the same time last year (471 direct exhibitors),” he said.

This data, which includes 108 new exhibitors, shows an 80 percent retention rate for conventional displaying organisations. The Delegation of the European Union to Zimbabwe stands out among the inaugural exhibitors that will take part this year. While individual EU nations like France, Germany, and

Italy have participated in the past, this will be the first time that the EU as a whole will participate.

He added; “The bloc will also have exhibits showcasing the different programmes that it is conducting in and with Zimbabwe, in addition to some individual national displays on trade potential.

“As of now, 25 direct displays from 21 foreign countries will be included in ZITF 2023, representing both nation involvement and individual businesses. This is an improvement over the 2022 edition, which featured 16 direct exhibitors from 13 different nations.”

According to Moyo the countries represented are Angola, Belarus, Botswana, China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Netherlands, Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden, Tanzania, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States of America and Zambia.

He said; “In terms of local participation, 65 percent of the confirmed exhibitors came from Harare while Bulawayo – based companies accounted for 21 percent. Representation from other cities around the country is currently 14 percent.”

Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce president, Mike Kamungeremu said; “As the representative body of the private sector Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) is focusing on the need to increase economic output to desired levels is paramount, hence we are taking the engagements that will happen at ZITF seriously as we seek to strengthen domestic value chains to uplift our economy,”.

Kamungeremu added that they are so happy that it’s ZITF time where this year they are targeting securing new export markets for Zimbabwean products but at the same time calling upon their members to make the most out of this international trade showcase.

Industrialist, Steven Ncube, underscored the significance of trade expos for Zimbabwe at a time the country is on a developmental trajectory.

“At the moment, Zimbabwe boasts of a good investment environment, which has attracted a lot of businesses from around the world therefore the coming in of the ZITF is a good occasion for us as business to foster economic growth for our lovely country,” he noted.

The trade fair has been identified as the perfect platform for sealing business synergies.-ebusinessweekly