SA News

South Africa scoops gold at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair

28 Apr 2012

The Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) pavilion at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair won the Best Stand Award in a glittering ceremony in Bulawayo yesterday. The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe received the award from the Zambian President Michael Sata on behalf of the department. President Robert Mugabe, Vice President Joice Mujuru and numerous Zimbabwean Cabinet ministers also attended the ceremony, which was the highlight of the international fair that started on Tuesday, April 24 and will end today. Mozambique and Zambia were second and third, respectively in the competition.

The deafening sound of the Vuvuzela reverberated throughout Hall 4 of the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre as South African exhibitors and government officials sang Shosholoza to celebrate their victory.

"The award could not have come at a better time as people at home are celebrating eighteen years of democracy today, and we are also having our own celebration for being the country’s good ambassadors," quipped Deputy Minister Thabethe.

"This award does not belong to the DTI  but to South Africa as a country in general. For us to be crowned the best exhibitor in an international fair in which more than 30 countries are participating is a great achievement. We are all proud of this award as it shows that we as a department have represented the country well. It also means that the quality of the companies that are exhibiting in our stand have created a good impression among the judges, and the visitors," she added.

Thabethe said that the fair, which was held under the theme, "Investing Locally, Reaping Globally", was not only a perfect platform for the South African companies to market themselves and gain international exposure, but numerous of them also made good deals.

One of those companies was Unica Plastic Moulders, which successfully negotiated good deals with three Zimbabwean companies. The company's Sales Director, Mr Abid Qasim said his Pretoria-based company clinched a deal to supply a Zimbabwe company, Power Sales Group's 130 stores with plastic houseware.

Mr Zameer Mohammed, whose company Zambrands is based in Pietermaritzburg, KwaZulu-Natal, said he also got orders to supply Zimbabwean stores with his products, which include spices, instant milkshakes, tea and coffee.

Earlier in the day, President Mugabe visited the DTI pavilion and was taken on a tour by Deputy Minister Thabethe.