TENDAI BHEBE IN BULAWAYO
At least 15 countries have confirmed their participation at the forthcoming Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) set for April.
The trade show case will run from April 26 to 30 under the theme: “Rethink, Reimagine, Re-invent Value Chains for Economic Development”.
ZITF deputy CEO, Stella Nkomo, yesterday said the company’s executives were this week in Harare in a drive to lure more foreign participation.
“This week, a high-level representation from the ZITF Company including the chairman, CEO and deputy CEO are in Harare meeting with heads of foreign diplomatic missions based in Zimbabwe to canvas for their participation in the 62nd edition of the ZITF,” Nkomo said.
She said the aim of the visits was to deliver a personal invitation for exhibits as well as business delegations of buyers, financiers and investors from these countries to participate in the show.
“We also use these meetings to highlight the benefits of participation in ZITF as well as to magnify the economic diplomacy role played by the show in trade promotion, technology transfer and attracting foreign direct investment, “ Nkomo said.
The team has been to the embassies of Angola, Botswana, DRC, Ghana, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Malawi, Russia, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland and Tanzania.
The response has been warm and highly encouraging. In fact, all the embassies visited have confirmed participation in the show either as exhibitors or visitors, Nkomo said.
“Additionally, all the Heads of Missions will participate extensively in the Diplomats Forum scheduled to take place during the trade show. Other countries targeted for this particular round of visits include Canada,Egypt, European Union, Ghana, Germany, India, Italy, Mozambique, Netherlands, and United States of America,” she said.
Nkomo said ZITF aims to continue maintaining trade and diplomatic partnerships with other countries.
“Many of these countries were approached based on their long established trade and diplomatic partnerships with Zimbabwe, which we now seek to build on, for example the SADC community.
As we navigate the “next” normal post-viral era, it is important to utilise engagement platforms such as ZITF to continue the process of knowledge sharing and harness the limitless potential of our natural resources and skills to develop our respective nations, “she said.
