Story by Lisa Masuku-Kurira
ALL is set for the 66th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), which opens Monday in Bulawayo, with a strong emphasis on forging high-value global business connections.
The Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre has become a hive of activity, with contractors and stand designers working around the clock to complete installations ahead of the official opening.
The sound of hammers, drills and grinders echoed through exhibition halls over the weekend as teams raced to meet tight deadlines, expressing confidence that preparations would be completed on schedule.
“We are putting final touches and everything will be in place tomorrow,” one contractor said.
“When you come back tomorrow you will not even recognise this place. We are doing our part to transform these stands in line with this year’s theme,” another added.
“As you can see, we were contracted to do several stands here and we are on track. By 5pm today we will be done,” said another exhibitor.
For more than six decades, ZITF has remained Zimbabwe’s flagship trade showcase, playing a pivotal role in promoting international business linkages and unlocking investment opportunities.
Exhibitors say this year’s edition is expected to attract increased interest, particularly in technology-driven sectors.
“We are looking forward to seeing the display of massive technologies that can help us in the mining sector. As you can see, this year there is so much traffic. The fair really looks promising in terms of business engagements,” one exhibitor said.
“The goal is mainly to make money and create connections at the fair. That is why we keep coming back,” another noted.
“For us, this fair continues to prove to be a fertile ground for forging linkages with African countries,” added another participant.
From near-empty halls, the venue is set to be transformed into a vibrant global marketplace, with striking stand designs and diverse exhibitions expected to define the week-long showcase.
