SMALL to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) International Expo founder and chief executive Blessing Magenga says she is gratified by the continued growth of the expo, with this year’s edition luring close to 150 local and regional exhibitors from Zambia, Malawi and South Africa.
Magenga said the SMEs Expo, which was the 15th edition and ran from October 8 to 11, indicated confidence and growth in the Zimbabwean SMEs sector as it managed to bring in stakeholders like the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Open University, Midlands State University, Alutech Investments, Agriche (Malawi), Blue Ribbon, City of Harare, Professional Security, Ngoma Kurira and Hinnpos Investments, among others.
“I am impressed by the progress and confidence built over the 15 years of our existence and the realisation that small to medium enterprises have played a pivotal role in building the Zimbabwean economy,” she said.
“We now have this place as permanently allocated to us by the Harare City Council here in Harare Gardens and we are looking forward to a bigger and profitable expo next year and preparations are already on course,” Magenga said.
The SMEs International Expo is an annual exhibition that seeks to create synergies and a networking platform for small and medium businesses.
Running under the theme Resilience & Agility: Navigating Change for SMEs — Future-Proofing in a Climate-Conscious World, this year’s edition of the SMEs Expo aimed to drive trade, investment and partnerships among local and international SMEs and corporates.
Mwainawo Kukala, the managing director of Agriche, a company from Malawi, said they came to showcase their Nyongo brand, along with their bean varieties and rice foods, which they wanted to share with the Zimbabwean market and the region at large.
Amanda, a marketer from Lord Brighton College Day and Boarding Schools, said the SMEs Expo provided them with an opportunity to interact with parents who could easily identify the best facilities their schools offered.
- Handling scenarios not covered by IFRS
- Zimdollar further depreciates against US$
- Prioritise green economic recovery in national budget
- SMEs urged to adopt business models to promote economic growth
Keep Reading
Similarly, Brighton Chellar, the founder and chairperson of the LIAS University College in Zambia, advised school-leavers and entrepreneurs to further their education on health through full-time and distance education studies with his institution.
The expo is a powerful testament to the unwavering spirit and innovation of SMEs across the region.
As industries grapple with environmental challenges and shifting market demands, the expo emerged as a dynamic platform for knowledge exchange, showcasing how SMEs can pivot, thrive and lead the charge towards a greener, more resilient future.
Magenga said the strong turnout and diversity of exhibitors affirmed the exhibition’s growing impact and its crucial role in shaping a sustainable economic landscape rooted in innovation, collaboration and agility.
