The one-day International Business Conference at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) next week will tackle a number of economic issues that could be a catalyst to the economy’s revival.
The conference is pencilled for April 25 and brings together renowned local and foreign economic players.
It will be held under the theme “Investing Locally, Building Local Capacity and Reaping Dividends Globally: Turning a Rich Resources Base into an Industrial Hub.”
ZITF runs from April 24 to 28 in Bulawayo. International speakers will include Mthuli Ncube, vice-president of Africa Development Bank and Carlos Lima, who is the director of International and Institutional Affairs, Afro-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Ambassador Aldo Dell’Ariccia, head of the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe.
Vice-President Joice Mujuru is lined up as guest of honour.
According to the conference agenda, Industry and Commerce minister Welshman Ncube is expected to present a paper titled Imperatives needed to turn the rich resource base into driving the industrialisation process that will make zimbabwe a regional industrial hub.
African Development Bank vice-president Mthuli Ncube’s task will be to tackle “The One-stop Border Post Concept and Trade in Africa, New Frontiers for Growth Through Trade and Exports of Value Added Goods in the Economic Transformation of Zimbabwe.”
Bankers’ Association of Zimbabwe president John Mushayavanhu will address the contentious influx of cheap imported goods.
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Also to be discussed will be energy projects and the significance of new duty structures and impact on the manufacturing sector and capacity utilisation.
Briefing journalists on Tuesday, ZITF Company general manager Daniel Chigaru said the “exhibition is likely to be outstanding in terms of quality exhibits, product mix and innovation by exhibitors”.
Chigaru said the produce mix ranged from chemicals, pharmaceuticals, clothing, textiles, computer informatics and office equipment, to manufacturing equipment, leisure, tourism and banking, among others.
China has booked most of the exhibition space — 500 square metres — followed by South Africa with 400 square metres.
The Asian country will have 35 companies, which according to Chigaru is the “biggest ever from the People’s Republic of China”.
Apart from the conference, the Bulawayo Agriculture Show is looking at penning 40 pedigrees (represented by Khami Prisons and Matopos Research Station) and 128 fat stock.
The produce section will showcase crops from Matabeleland North and South provinces. Chigaru said as of Tuesday this week, 18 groups had entered and a total of 1 374 individual entries had been received.
Chigaru said making a comeback to the exhibition would be poultry representing both commercial and communal farmers.
The home industries section has 1 200 entries.
