Mozambican President Filipe Nyusi is scheduled to visit Zimbabwe on Tuesday to officially inaugurate the 114th Zimbabwe Agricultural Show (ZAS).
This year’s show, which runs from tomorrow through Saturday at the Exhibition Park in Harare, is themed “Cultivating Prosperity: Growing Business. Innovating for Change. Nurturing Our Future” and is expected to draw over 200,000 visitors.
Acting Chief Director for Protocol and Conference Services at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mr. Livit Mugejo, confirmed that “President Filipe Nyusi of Mozambique will officially open the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show on August 27, 2024.”
Mr. Mugejo emphasized that President Nyusi’s visit is a working visit, not a state visit, focused solely on the opening ceremony of the 114th edition of the show. He noted that President Nyusi’s presence highlights the deep-rooted historical, cultural, and economic ties between Zimbabwe and Mozambique.
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He also mentioned that inviting a foreign head of state to open the agricultural show aims to enhance trade relations between the two nations. “The decision to invite a foreign leader for this event is intended to strengthen our trade connections. Mozambique, as our neighbor and significant trading partner, provides a crucial route to the sea,” Mr. Mugejo added, highlighting the opportunity for both countries to boost bilateral and business relations through the ZAS platform.
In a separate discussion with The Sunday Mail, ZAS CEO Dr. Andrew Matibiri revealed that over 500 exhibitors have occupied more than 70,000 square meters of space at Exhibition Park as of Friday, an increase from the 53,300 square meters taken by 410 exhibitors last year.
The event has attracted 12 international exhibitors from countries including Russia, India, South Africa, Zambia, Pakistan, Eswatini, Japan, Mozambique, China, Malawi, and Tanzania, up from five participants last year.
Dr. Matibiri attributed the rise in exhibitor numbers to the perceived benefits of showcasing goods and services, noting that ZAS has expanded to accommodate more exhibitors. He assured that preparations for the show are well underway, with exhibitors actively setting up their displays.
“The 114th Zimbabwe Agricultural Show will take place from Monday, August 26, 2024, to Saturday, August 31, 2024,” Dr. Matibiri confirmed. He also noted that despite the recent regional cholera outbreak, which is now under control, the show will proceed with a full schedule of business conferences and entertainment events.
This year’s show will include several competitions, particularly in the agri-produce category, with participants selected from provincial winners in tobacco, cotton, and livestock. Dr. Matibiri highlighted that the tobacco section will showcase produce from provincial winners, with a focus on promoting high-quality tobacco production in Zimbabwe.
“The agri-produce category will feature entries from winners of provincial shows, with 10 entries from each province. The cotton section will include top farmers from the eight cotton-growing provinces, competing for top honors. This section also introduced a new category last year—the Young Cotton Farmer of the Year,” he said.
Additionally, the livestock section will feature displays from provincial winners, with a focus on promoting climate-resilient breeds and expanding the national herd. Exhibits will also include pigs, goats, sheep, rabbits, and poultry.
On Wednesday, ZAS and the National Economic Consultative Forum will host the 12th Annual National Agribusiness Conference, themed “Cultivating Prosperity: Seeding Solutions for Livestock Sustainability.”
Thursday will see the hosting of the Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) Conference by ZAS and Mejrkh at the Rainbow Towers, alongside the Research for Agricultural Excellence Indaba and Diplomatic Network Business conferences at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Society Business Hub.
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