ZITF: Zimbabwe’s premier trade expo kicks off in Bulawayo

By Xinhua

BULAWAYO: Zimbabwe’s premier trade expo, the 64th Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), kicked off in the second largest city of Bulawayo on Tuesday.

Foreign exhibitors from 27 countries, including some 40 exhibitors from China, are participating in the 64th edition of the trade fair.

Running on the theme of “Innovation: the catalyst to industrialization and trade,” the expo will run until Saturday, with the first three days focusing on business exchanges and the last two days open to the public.

Liu Baixue, vice chairperson of the Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe, said Chinese companies are showcasing products made in Zimbabwe and China.

“We have around 40 Chinese companies participating in this international fair, and some of them are Chinese listed companies’ subsidiaries in Zimbabwe, some (are) private Chinese companies,” Liu told Xinhua.

“For them to be here, they have the aim of presenting their products and services to the people and companies in Zimbabwe, and I think they will achieve their goal in the next couple of days,” she said.

Justin Allan, leader of Malawi’s delegation to the trade fair, said he expects Malawian businesses to benefit from showcasing the country’s agricultural products.

“We are trying to identify suppliers and distributors for our rice. That’s the chief purpose for our participation in this fair,” he told Xinhua.

Local exhibitors are also expecting to broaden their markets both domestically and internationally.

“We have been in touch with a number of foreign countries that would want to partner with us in this business, so we expect more business to come in from foreign countries so that we grow even our client base,” said Priscilla Mushonga, a customer liaison officer at Active Marketing International, a company that specializes in corporate wear, protective clothing and other services.

The ZITF is a major trade and investment platform which offers opportunities for local and international businesses to explore business partnerships.