AT least 92% of the available space has been taken up as the regional Mining, Engineering and Transport (Mine Entra) exhibition roars into life in Bulawayo today.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
The annual exhibition is set to tackle topical issues such as fiscal incentives, overall growth of the mining sector and mining policy among others.
The exhibition ends on Friday. It is held under the theme “Unearthing Opportunities” — a rallying statement challenging inter-dependent sectors to uncover and take advantage of the potential, opportunities and growth prospects in the region’s mining industry and related sectors.
ZITF Company chairman Bekithemba Nkomo yesterday told journalists that 160 direct exhibitors had reserved space. Foreign exhibitors are from China, Germany and South Africa.
Bookings amount to 4 723 square metres of exhibition space representing 92% of the space available for sale, Nkomo said.
Nkomo added the company had organised a number of conferences seeking to provide a turnaround strategy for the mining industry in Zimbabwe.
Mines and Mining Development minister Walter Chidakwa and his Finance counterpart Patrick Chinamasa will today join other stakeholders on a discussion on issues affecting the mining industry.
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“The conference will address topical issues such as fiscal incentives necessary to support mining linkages and overall growth of the mining sector, empowerment models that support community development and a discussion on the mining policy and enablers to optimal development of the industry,” Nkomo said.
He said close to 100 delegates had confirmed their participation at the conference and their profile included industry executives, relevant policy makers, senior government officials, financiers and investors.
Tomorrow, Nkomo said, a joint suppliers and producers’ conference — co-organised with Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe — would be held. This, according to Nkomo, was a forum for upstream players in the mining value chain to meet with users of their products and services that include mining houses to discuss opportunities and challenges to business co-operation.
“This year’s focus is on local procurement and supply chain challenges as well as how local communities can benefit from mining projects and initiatives,” he said.
Besides these conferences, Nkomo said the Zimbabwe Miner’s Federation would be having their annual small-scale and artisanal miners’ conference on Friday and Chidakwa was expected to officiate.
He said the conference would focus on issues affecting the special interest group, including improved mining methods, environmental responsibility, and acquiring financing.
The exhibitor profile consists mainly of specialised companies supplying exploration, extraction, processing or beneficiation machinery, as well as suppliers of equipment relating to the engineering and transport of mining resources.
