Bulawayo company testifies on 30% gains made at ZITF

ONE of Bulawayo companies - Stop to Start International - has seen business related to its participation at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grow by 30 percent since last year.

Company chief executive Mr Zwelibanzi Ndlovu told the Sunday News that from the inquiries this year, they were anticipating business related to the event to grow to around 50 percent.

"We have seen the benefits of taking part at the ZITF," he said.  "This year there were inquiries from many companies including those from outside and we foresee business directly or indirectly linked to our participation going up 50 percent," he said.

He said the company, which has been taking part at the fair for less than five years had seen the benefits of the premier trading event.

"ZITF is an internationally recognised business fair, and we have seen how it has helped us grow over the years. Because it attracts exhibitors from all over the world as a result, we had the opportunity not only to be exposed to companies in similar business, but meet and network with companies that want to partner us," he said.

Stop to Start International is a private organisation that specialises in transformation management and investor relations.

It has done consultancy work for various companies in the country and abroad. It is also in the process of pooling companies in Bulawayo to access loans from international financial institutions.

Training manager Ms Tholakele Dzowa added that ZITF had provided the company with the opportunity to meet people from varied backgrounds and settings.

"These people take time out to visit and we get to meet them thereby giving us the golden opportunity to market. We also get the opportunity to assess the needs of service providers," she said.

Mr Ndlovu urged other Bulawayo companies to take advantage of the event to market their products.

"Bulawayo is still alive and all what we have to do is to make sure that we make use of such events to expose to the outside world what we have. More local companies must start preparing to exhibit at next year's event."