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The Herald, May 12, 1981

THE chairman of Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, Mr Gordon Handover, said yesterday that only a minority of Zimbabwean industrialists had been unable to deal with export orders received at Trade Fair because of the foreign currency shortage.

Reacting to reports yesterday which questioned the value of Trade Fair, Mr Handover said that if industrialists had firm orders and went to the Government, they would be allowed an ad hoc foreign currency allocation.

He said a lot of orders had been taken by Zimbabwean industrialists and the Trade Fair staff were trying to find out the value of the orders.

“We know that many exhibitors were more than happy with the business they did. One cannot expect to be allowed to import sophisticated, computer-controlled machinery.

“As for transport, everyone is aware of the situation and that the Government is giving us as much foreign currency as it can.

“On the other hand, foreign exhibitors came here to show us what they had. Many of them told us they could not hope for large volumes of business during the foreign currency shortage.

“But they insisted it was a useful thing for them to show their wares, not only to Zimbabweans but to others from surrounding countries.

“The picture painted in the article was unnecessarily gloomy and inaccurate. In fact, I was appalled to see the headline, Trade Fair: Was it worth it after all the plans that have been made.

“Millions of dollars have been invested in Trade Fair, and there are plans to spend another $3 million.

“This one phrase has probably done more harm to Trade Fair, Bulawayo and Zimbabwe as a whole in the eyes of foreign countries than almost any statement or occurrence in the past.

“The Prime Minister said after visiting the fair that it had done more good for the country in two weeks than all the diplomatic missions abroad had achieved since independence.”

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• The ZITF remains the premier trade exhibition in the country and this shows in the quality and quantity of exhibitors that were at this year’s showcase.
• Apart from putting the country on the map, the ZITF also acted as a barometer to gauge the country’s re-engagement efforts. A lot of foreign companies and countries exhibited at this year’s showcase, which showed that the engagement efforts are bearing fruit.
• The ZITF is continuing to be bigger and better each year.