BY SAMUEL NJINGA IN MASVINGO
Government officials, the private sector and captains of industry in Masvingo province today announced that the highly anticipated Masvingo Business Expo 3rd edition preparations are now at an advanced stage and they are targeting 500 exhibitors.
The expo is being organised by the office of the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Zimbabwe Chamber of Commerce, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (Masvingo Chapter) as well as the Chamber for Small and Medium Enterprises. It is being organised under the Public, Private Partnership (PPP) and Total Engagement concepts (TEC). The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA), ZimTrade, Agricultural Marketing Authority (AMA), Procurement Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PRAZ), Standard Association of Zimbabwe and the Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) are among the various business players that have committed themselves to partner with the organisers of this event.
Speaking to journalists in Masvingo this afternoon, Secretary for Masvingo Province and Devolution Affairs, Dr Addmore Pazvakavambwa, said that the expo aims to showcase the best of local and regional enterprises, promote investment opportunities as well as foster entrepreneurship within the Masvingo region and beyond.
“Attendees can expect a dynamic program featuring exhibitions, panel discussions, and keynote speeches from notable figures in the business community, investment facilitating agencies as well as policy makers,” said Dr Pazvakavambwa.
A total of five hundred international and local exhibitors are targeted to showcase their services and products. The Business Expo is scheduled to take place on Thursday and Friday next week at the prestigious Flamboyant, a Regency Group Hotel under the theme: Accelerating entrepreneurship through innovation. The Minister of Industry and Commerce, Mangaliso Ndlovu will be the Guest of Honour.
Business expos are meant to highlight investment opportunities through creation of a valid platform for investors to showcase their investment opportunities to the world. This helps them to interact and articulate challenges that they often encounter in their endeavor to invest in different trade areas.
Stands are US$100 for Small Enterprises (SMEs), US$250 for Medium Enterprises and US$500 for corporates. Business owners, entrepreneurs, and stakeholders interested in participating are encouraged to register early in order to secure their spots. Sponsors of this year’s edition include Byword Motors, Econet, Zimpost, Masvingo City Council, ZIMRA, Doczine and Flamboyant Hotel among others.
Chief Finance Officer and Chairperson of the Resource Mobilization Committee, Ephraim Museva, said that tomorrow the Committee is meeting to map out the final touches on preparations.
In response to how this years Expo distinguishes itself from the previous ones, Dr Pazvakavambwa said that this years preparation has been thorough.
“We learnt a lot from the past. The 2nd Annual Diaspora Investment Conference and Homecoming Event held at Clevers` Resort as well as the SADC Industrial Week taught us some of the formulas on how to deal with these big events, so we have managed to up the game,” said Pazvakavambwa.
Masvingo provinces quest is to develop an US$8 billion economy by 2030. Apparently the province aims to grow its income per capita from US$2800 to US$3000 by 2025. Masvingo is a sleeping giant with economic opportunities that exist in various sectors such as mining, agriculture, and tourism, among others. Zimbabwes largest inland dam, Tugwi-Mukosi has got the potential to irrigate over 40 000ha given the existing new advances in irrigation technology today.
The Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce which is Masvingo`s private sector led by N Richards Director, Andrew Chekani, has joined forces in working with the Government to engender socio-economic transformation through exploiting existing opportunities for growth and expansion.