SA seeks to bag R10m deals at ZITF

SA seeks to bag R10m deals at ZITF
Published: 22 April 2014
THE Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) will lead a group of South African companies to the 2014 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), which begins in Bulawayo today.The fair is being held under the theme "New Ideas, New Heights".

The companies have been assisted by the dti through its Export Marketing and Investment Assistance Scheme (Emia), which aims to develop export markets for South African products and services and to recruit new foreign direct investment into the country.

This is done through the provision of marketing assistance to develop new export markets and grow existing export markets and identification of new export markets through market research, amongst others.

SA Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe said export sales resulting from the participation in the fair as reported by South African companies amounted to R6.6m in 2011 and R7.1m in 2012.

Last year, South Africa was voted the best foreign exhibitor stand due to its quality and design.

Thabethe said the department is looking forward to assist the companies to come back with increased market knowledge about the Zimbabwean market, regional and international business contacts and export orders of more than R10m amongst other things.

According to Thabethe, the fair is an important mechanism to pursue intra-Africa trade as well as to strengthen relations between South Africa and its SADC counterparts and the rest of the world.

Thabethe described Zimbabwe as one of South Africa's key strategic countries in the region.

Countries taking part at the fair include China, Brazil, Congo Brazzaville, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Poland, Bangladesh, India and Nigeria.

The US will also participate this year.

This year's exhibition will feature product groups such as machinery and expertise for infrastructure, manufacturing processes and equipment, innovation, automation and supplies for agro-processing, among others.

At this year's exhibition China is the largest foreign exhibitor having secured 1 061 square metres of exhibition space.

South Africa, which is occupying 800 square metres, comes second after China.

More than 92 percent of the net 55,000 square metre exhibition space had been booked as of last week.

Highlights of the five-day exhibition include Zimbabwe International Business Conference set for tomorrow, organised in partnership with National Economic Consultative Forum among others.

The business conference will run under the theme, "Technology and Innovation: A Key Pillar for Zim-Asset Successful Implementation", featuring a mix of local and international speakers including presentations by the official envoys to Zimbabwe from China, India and USA.

Vice President Joice Mujuru is expected to deliver a keynote address at the business conference.

- Fin24
Tags: ZITF,

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