This year’s trade fair- Zimbabwe’s prime trade festival- will have a more relevant guest from the business world. Last year’s guest Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad was more of a political statement for Mugabe’s whose stance is anti West. Hence The Iranian President, a bitter critic of America and the West was an ideologically motivated stance.
This time around with growing concern and isolation the Zimbabwean economy is still to grow at the background of a trade embargo with European countries thus the President of the African Export Import Bank ‘s invite is a step in the right direction.
“This year the trade fair will be officially opened by the president of Afrexim Bank. This is set to be the biggest fair ever since the GNU was signed. The trade fair is slowly gaining back its profile as a true international arena,” said the Minister of Industry and Commerce Minister Professor Welshman Ncube.
The African Export-Import Bank engages in the finance and facilitation of trade among African countries, and between Africa and the rest of the world. It has branch offices in Harare, Zimbabwe, and Abuja, Nigeria. African Export-Import Bank was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt.
Through inviting the African Export- Import Bank boss Zimbabwe seeks to mend its reputation as a bad debtor and also put its recovery plan on the road map.
The ZITF runs from 3 to 7 May in Bulawayo. It would be the 52nd edition and it runs under the theme “Creating Business Synergies Now and Beyond.” 14 countries have confirmed their participation.
“So far 14 nations have confirmed their participation in ZITF 2011. These are; Germany, China, Ghana, Italy, Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Tanzania, Turkey, Zambia, Swaziland, Indonesia and Namibia,” said the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair company in a statement.
The Minister of Industry and Commerce Minister Professor Welshman Ncube stressed that there is need to have more regional exhibitors through regional integration.
Post published in: News