Business / Local
ZITF bookings overwhelming
18 Feb 2013 at 04:26hrs | Views
Space booked so far for this year's Zimbabwe International Trade Fair now exceeds space taken by the same period last year, an official has said. ZITF deputy general manager Mrs Noma Ndlovu said a total of 45 559 square metres of exhibition space had been booked ahead of this year's fair compared to just over 42 000 square metres last year.
The 54th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair starts from 23 to 27 April under the theme, "Building Value, Enhancing Growth".
The ZITF has total exhibition space of 60 000 square metres and last year 48 697 square metres were occupied.
Responding to questions from Business Chronicle, Mrs Ndlovu said the bookings were well ahead of the figures achieved during the previous comparable period.
"Forty-five thousand five hundred and fifty-nine square metres of exhibition space has been booked to date. The bookings are well ahead of what they were last year at this time. Last year at this time we had 42 012 square metres booked," she said.
The 2013 ZITF marketing campaign began last year. Mrs Ndlovu said their agents in Brazil, China, South Africa, Germany and Holland had been active in trying to market this year's trade fair.
"So far, so good, we are happy with the results. To date China has booked 600 square metres, South Africa through the department of Trade and Industry, 700 square metres.
"We are also expecting an additional 100 square metres from the South African agent.
"While there has not been a firm confirmation from Brazil yet, we are optimistic that eventually there will be exhibits from there," she said.
She said although at the moment they could not talk about the figures of local, regional and international exhibitors that had already confirmed participation, ZITF Company was impressed by the healthy mix of exhibitors.
"While we cannot talk about numbers at the moment, we are very happy that there is a healthy mix of local, regional and international exhibitors. ZITF 2013 will undoubtedly be a very fruitful exhibition".
Last year, exhibitors' numbers went down 10 percent to 755 from the 2011 figures due to the exhibitors taking up bigger stands.
Mrs Ndlovu said although some have opted to go into halls, paving way for the ZITF Company to accommodate some of its aspiring leaseholders on the waiting list, almost all of their traditional leaseholders had confirmed participating at this year's trade showcase.
The traditional leaseholders include Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
The 54th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair starts from 23 to 27 April under the theme, "Building Value, Enhancing Growth".
The ZITF has total exhibition space of 60 000 square metres and last year 48 697 square metres were occupied.
Responding to questions from Business Chronicle, Mrs Ndlovu said the bookings were well ahead of the figures achieved during the previous comparable period.
"Forty-five thousand five hundred and fifty-nine square metres of exhibition space has been booked to date. The bookings are well ahead of what they were last year at this time. Last year at this time we had 42 012 square metres booked," she said.
The 2013 ZITF marketing campaign began last year. Mrs Ndlovu said their agents in Brazil, China, South Africa, Germany and Holland had been active in trying to market this year's trade fair.
"So far, so good, we are happy with the results. To date China has booked 600 square metres, South Africa through the department of Trade and Industry, 700 square metres.
"We are also expecting an additional 100 square metres from the South African agent.
"While there has not been a firm confirmation from Brazil yet, we are optimistic that eventually there will be exhibits from there," she said.
She said although at the moment they could not talk about the figures of local, regional and international exhibitors that had already confirmed participation, ZITF Company was impressed by the healthy mix of exhibitors.
"While we cannot talk about numbers at the moment, we are very happy that there is a healthy mix of local, regional and international exhibitors. ZITF 2013 will undoubtedly be a very fruitful exhibition".
Last year, exhibitors' numbers went down 10 percent to 755 from the 2011 figures due to the exhibitors taking up bigger stands.
Mrs Ndlovu said although some have opted to go into halls, paving way for the ZITF Company to accommodate some of its aspiring leaseholders on the waiting list, almost all of their traditional leaseholders had confirmed participating at this year's trade showcase.
The traditional leaseholders include Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia.
Source - TC
