ZIMBABWE has expressed hope that it will host the 5th Intra Africa Trade Fair (IATF) scheduled for 2027 depending on the outcome of the evaluation process, NewsDay has established.
This was disclosed by Industry and Commerce deputy minister Raj Modi during a Press briefing on the occasion of the visit to Zimbabwe by the IATF host bid evaluation committee in Bulawayo on Tuesday.
Modi said Zimbabwe last November submitted a bid to host the 5th IATF.
“Following the submission, Zimbabwe was shortlisted as a possible candidate together with the bids of Malawi and Nigeria,” he said.
“Let me inform that the Intra-Africa Trade Fair host bid evaluation committee is currently in Zimbabwe for a due diligence process from February 10 to 12, 2025.
“The objective of the visit is to evaluate the country’s preparedness to host the Intra-Africa Trade Fair in 2027.”
The committee was being led by Gainmore Zanamwe from the Afrexibank and comprised representatives from organisations including the African Union Commission, Afreximbank, African Development Bank, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa, the African Continental Free Trade Area, Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa, the Reeds Exhibitions and many others.
Modi said the committee’s assessment would inform the decision on whether Zimbabwe would be granted the opportunity to host the prestigious event in 2027.
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A meeting was held in Bulawayo on Monday, where the committee engaged government officials and stakeholders to discuss Zimbabwe’s bid to host the trade fair.
“The meeting provided an opportunity for the committee to seek clarification on various aspects of the bid, including infrastructure, logistics, finance and security,” Modi said.
According to Modi, the committee toured the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair grounds to assess the venue’s suitability for the fair.
The committee also inspected exhibition halls, conference facilities and other amenities.
“In addition, it inspected airport facilities, courtesy of the Airports Company of Zimbabwe, to evaluate the country’s capacity to handle international flights and visitors,” he said.
“Further, the committee inspected accommodation facilities in Bulawayo, including hotels and other lodgings.”
