BULAWAYO, Apr. 27 (NewsDay Live) - The 2026 edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) has reinforced Zimbabwe’s push to position itself as a competitive regional trade and investment hub, with government and private sector leaders citing stronger investor interest, deeper industrial linkages and growing international participation.
Speaking at a ZITF media briefing, Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Ndlovu said this year’s theme was more than symbolism, describing it as a practical call to action for business transformation.
He said the focus was on collaboration, regional integration, cross-border value chains, digital connectivity and improving enterprise competitiveness.
“This year’s theme was not a slogan; it was a practical call to action towards collaboration, regional integration, cross-border value chain development and digital connectivity,” Ndlovu said.
He said ZITF continued to evolve as a key platform for trade promotion, investment facilitation and industrial linkages.
The minister noted a deliberate shift towards prioritising business-to-business engagements during the first three days of the fair, while preserving strong public participation in the final days.
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“ZITF remains one of Zimbabwe’s most important platforms for trade promotion, investment facilitation, industrial linkages and market access. ZITF 2026 reinforced that role by intentionally prioritising business-to-business engagement during the first three days, while also preserving the fair’s strong public-facing value in the final days,” he said.
High-level participation was recorded across the programme, including a closed-door business breakfast between senior government officials and industry leaders. Parallel sessions drew strong attendance, focusing on industrialisation, youth entrepreneurship, innovation commercialisation, trade diplomacy and investment mobilisation.
The exhibition also recorded strong private sector participation and oversubscription across key platforms, signalling sustained investor confidence in Zimbabwe’s economy.
“ZITF remains Zimbabwe’s premier shop window for investment and industrial growth,” Ndlovu said.
Demand was strongest in manufacturing, mining, agriculture and energy, reflecting Zimbabwe’s productive base. Momentum was also evident in ICT, innovation-led enterprises and financial services, sectors increasingly viewed as key enablers of trade and investment.
A major highlight was the Investors Lounge, delivered in partnership with Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency, which improved matchmaking between local firms and international delegations.
The minister also highlighted increased youth participation through platforms such as the Youth in Business Conference and broader inclusion of young entrepreneurs in mainstream sessions.
“We were particularly encouraged by increased youth participation through dedicated platforms such as the Youth in Business Conference and through stronger inclusion of young entrepreneurs within mainstream sessions,” he said.
Business member organisations and development partners were credited with strengthening the technical depth and outcomes of the programme.
International participation also continued to shift from transactional engagement towards longer-term investment interest. Regional neighbours remained strongly represented, alongside growing participation from emerging markets.
Targeted pre-event outreach, including regional roadshows, improved the quality of delegations and private sector representation within national pavilions.
Officials said embassies were also encouraged to prioritise attracting private sector delegations, resulting in reduced diplomatic representation but increased foreign company participation.
As Zimbabwe pursues its industrialisation and export-led growth agenda, ZITF 2026 has been positioned as a key instrument for advancing trade diplomacy, investment mobilisation and market access.
Industry stakeholders are now expected to track post-event engagements to determine how many discussions translate into concrete investment and commercial deals in the coming months.