The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company, the organisers of the Mining, Engineering and Transport (MineEntra) exhibition has introduced a buyers’ programme to this year in response to exhibitors’ concerns.
Therefore, this year’s edition of the MineEntra exhibition is set to be dominated by activities that enhance engagement, networking and the sharing of insights among mining sector stakeholders.
ZITF Company Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Dr Nicholas Ndebele disclosed this development during a preparations update that he gave this week.
The event is pencilled to be held from 17 to 19 July at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre (ZIEC) in Bulawayo under the theme: “Unearthing Success: “The Mining Value Chains, Innovation & Industrialisation Nexus.”
Dr Ndebele highlighted that this year his company introduced a programme that will foster engagement and networking among stakeholders especially buyers and sellers to address the exhibitors’ concerns over the need for them to meet with buyers.
“This year will be a bit different as we are addressing one pain point, which exhibitors have always highlighted – whether buyers will come and see what is on display at the show. So we have introduced a buyers’ programme whose thrust is to allow speed networking between buyers and sellers of goods. So it’s a structured programme that will ensure that various exhibitors meet buyers,” Dr Ndebele said.
The ZITF boss indicated that the discourse during the event would revolve around critical issues such as productivity and environmental stewardship in the sector.
“Conversations during Mine Entra 2024 will zero in on unlocking a future of greater mining productivity, environmental responsibility, and economic prosperity. These are expected to feed into the Minerals Development Policy, Value Addition and Beneficiation strategy, the Artisanal and Small-scale Gold Mining (ASGM) strategy at a mining sector level, and the National Development Strategy at a broader economic level,” he said.
In line with its quest to encourage engagement and networking among stakeholders, the ZITF Company prepared a line-up of concurrent events to run alongside the show. These include a welcome cocktail, the Mining Industry Suppliers Forum, workshops, the MineEntra Conference, the Zimbabwe Miners Federation (ZMF) Small Scale and Artisanal Miners Conference and the MineEntra Charity Golf Challenge. The show is expected to be officially opened on the event’s second day.
Dr Ndebele explained that this year’s theme was meant to cast a spotlight on the connection among mining value chains, innovation and industrialisation.
“The Mine Entra 2024 theme is ‘Unearthing Success: The Mining Value Chains, Innovation and Industrialisation Nexus,’ with the expo being specially curated to showcase the latest trends and advancements in the mining industry, both locally and internationally. The theme is meant to highlight how the mining industry, once considered mature and capital-intensive, is currently experiencing a significant transformation fuelled by innovation. The theme is also a rallying call for the sector to innovate and optimise their mining and mineral processing techniques to create strong value chains, and ultimately drive resource-based industrialisation,” Dr Ndebele said.
Turning to the preparations for the event, the ZITF CEO disclosed that 136 exhibitors had registered to date, of which six companies were foreign, representing China (2), South Africa (3) and the United Kingdom (1). He said that a total of 4 535m² of exhibition space had been sold, which translated to 67 percent of the available space. A fact sheet released by the company last month showed that last year a total of 6 544m2 out of the 6 970m2 that was available was taken up by exhibitors. This translates to 94 percent.
During last year’s edition of the event, a total of 204 exhibitors participated in the show. This figure comprised 166 local direct exhibitors, eight foreign direct exhibitors, 26 local indirect exhibitors and four indirect foreign exhibitors. Exhibitors from Harare made up 58 percent of exhibitors during last year’s exhibition, while those from Bulawayo constituted 30 percent. Participants from other towns and cities made up 5 percent, while those from other countries constituted 6 percent of the exhibitors.