Zimpapers Logo

President Mugabe welcomes Congo Brazzaville’s Minister in the Presidency and Secretary-General Jean Baptiste Ondaye during a courtesy call at State House in Harare yesterday. — (Picture by Munyaradzi Chamalimba)

Tendai Mugabe Senior Reporter—
Congo Brazzaville’s President Denis Sassou Nguesso will officially open the 55th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo next month. The trade expo draws exhibitors from across the globe and runs from April 22 to 26.
Mr Jean Baptiste Ondaye, who is Minister in the Presidency in Congo Brazzaville, confirmed his boss would open the trade fair after meeting President Mugabe at State House yesterday.

Speaking through an interpreter, Mr Ondiye said he came to represent his President at the wedding of Bona Mugabe and Simba Chikore last weekend.

“The message my Head of State, Denis Sassou Nguesso, sent me to deliver here is his brother invited him to attend the wedding and he has sent me to represent him.

“Then he (President Mugabe) invited him also to officially open the International Trade Fair in Zimbabwe in April.”

Mr Ondaye said he discussed modalities of the State visit with President Mugabe.

The ZITF is arguably one of the largest intra-regional trade fairs south of the Sahara.

The first three days of this year’s trade fair will be business days. Organisers say more than 80 percent of the available exhibition space has already been booked, with 21 countries confirming interest in taking part compared to last year’s 16.

Of the 21 nations, 11 have reserved stands and among them are Bangladesh, China, Egypt, India, Indonesia, Italy and Malawi.

The exhibition will run under the theme “New ideas to new heights” and will feature product groups like machinery and expertise for infrastructure development, manufacturing, and processes and equipment for innovation among others.