By Yolanda Moyo
The look and feel of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) is set to improve through effective messaging strategies that seek to connect the exhibition to the spirit of the Zimbabwe is open for business mantra.
The Ministry of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services is in talks with the Zimbabwe International Trade fair to improve the aesthetics, look and feel of ZITF through thematic messaging that invoke vibrancy and a connection between ZITF and Vision 2030 implemented through the National Development Strategy One (NDS1).
Sharing ideas with the ZITF executive in Bulawayo this Sunday, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa said the ZITF is a chance to rebrand the country and project the Zimbabwe is open for business mindset to the citizenry and international investors.
“This is a discussion to share ideas on how to improve the look and feel… the aesthetics if ZITF through the thematic messaging to that people can feel the vibrancy and the connection between ZITF and government’s Visions 2030 as currently implemented through NDS1,” she said.
“The task is to find easier ways of making use of a wide variety of the interpretive media, one of which is billboards, signage and artwork to bring glamour and exceptional good feel to exhibitors and visitors. We don’t want people to feel that year after year, it is the same thing and so if one attends ZITF, they may as well predict the events for the next decade.”
ZITF board chairperson Busisa Moyo said this year’s theme is rooted in the NDS1 and vision 2030, with plans to modernise the exhibition centre on the cards.
“It is not one of the high-level business, but value chains speak to everyone as everyone is in some sort of value chain. What we want to profile is a conversation around how do we scale up these value chains,” he said.
This year’s edition of the ZITF will be held from the 26th to the 30th of April under the theme: ‘Rethink, Reimagine, Re-invert Value Chains for Economic Development.’