The 2022 edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, which ended on 30 April, was conspicuous from previous ones by the high quality of its stand designs.
One stakeholder who noted this was the Postal and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe (PROTRAZ) Head Marketing and International Affairs, Sibo Muteyiwa. The marketer took to LinkedIn over the weekend to express her appreciation for the high standard of stand designs at this year’s ZITF.
“A number of exhibitors took time to design international standard pavilions, rightfully so because exhibitions are supposed to be one of the many strategic ways to promote trade, bring attention to brands as well as educate, inform and interact with key customers,” she posted.
Muteyiwa ascribed the positive development to the international exhibitions, the Expo2020 Dubai and the Intra-Africa Trade Fair, which were held in October and November last year respectively. The former ran until the end of March this year. The former was held in the United Arab Emirates while the latter was held in South Africa.
“It seems this year, the level and standards were extremely higher than most years I have personally seen at local exhibitions. I wonder if Expo2020 (Dubai) and other international trade shows had anything to do with it. I must say, marketers surely outdid themselves this year,” Muteyiwa posted.
Managing Director of ShowCase It, a new exhibitions and events company, Makie Mbanje concurred with Muteyiwa on the influence of international exhibitions on stand design standards.
“Definitely the standards this year were much, much higher. And, yes, as a stand builder, I can confirm that Expo 2020 Dubai had a huge influence on designs as marketers were benchmarking with international exhibition stands,” Mbanje posted.
Muteyiwa also praised the way the trade fair’s concurrent events were organised.
“Even the side workshops, conversations and the business conference were likewise. Well done to the ZITF team. (I am) looking forward to even higher standards next year,” she said.
ZITF Company Chief Executive Officer, Dr Nick Ndebele paid tribute to the events’ exhibitors and delegates for the success of the event.
“ZIITF and, indeed, all our platforms are co-created by ourselves as organisers and exhibitors and conference delegates. Thank you so very much to our esteemed exhibitors/conference delegates for the impressive exhibits and rich conversations to move the economy up the value chains,” he said.