ZITF Elates Exhibitors

30 June 2011

The Zambia International Trade Fair (ZITF) opened yesterday in Ndola where exhibitors expressed satisfaction with the manner management has organised the six-day annual event.

A check showed that all was in place while the Zambia police service has deployed about 350 officers to maintain law and order.

Exhibitors in various stands had their items and equipment already on display in readiness for judging today while President Rupiah Banda is expected to tour the stands tomorrow.

In the exporters hall, M and E Crafts manager Mukubwe Banda said she was impressed with the manner ZITF management had organised the event and expected an overwhelming response from showgoers.

Ms Banda whose organisation deals in African and ‘Chitenge’ print bags and goat skin slippers among other items, said her firm hoped to establish itself on the Zambia market and beyond.

“The atmosphere and arrangement is good and we expect good business. We also deal in beads. We are based in Lusaka,” she said.

Mr Klenz head of marketing Pule Chomba said separately that he was satisfied with the manner the fair was arranged as the stands and exhibition halls had been rehabilitated.

Mr Chomba, whose organisation is engaged in all-purpose cleaning, said he expected to increase market share after the fair which closes on Tuesday next week.

Mr Chomba said Mr Klenz has been in the manufacturing industry since 1999 in Lusaka and was hoping to establish a distribution centre on the Copperbelt and later the North-Western Provinces.

His firm last exhibited at the fair in 2009, after which it secured more orders in interior and exterior car cleaning, house cleaning, and jewels polishing.

However, some exhibitors were still putting final touches to their stands with a few showgoers trickling in.

ZITF acting general manager Jonathan Simwawa said close to 700 exhibitors have registered and taken up their stands and assured that security was at 100 per cent.

Mr Simwawa said this year’s event would be unique because of the high quality exhibition and products and that two of the exhibition halls had been upgraded to international standards.

He said the fair will be officially opened on Saturday morning.

Last year, Botswana president Lieutenant -General Ian Khama was the guest of honour and attracted 120 foreign exhibitors and 400 local ones. About K1.7 billion was spent on preparations.

AllAfrica – All the Time