More than 550 exhibitors have already booked space for the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair 2026 edition, with organisers reporting robust interest from both local and international participants ahead of the annual showcase.
Speaking during the ZITF 2026 diplomats engagement meeting in Harare, on Tuesday, ZITF Chairman and industrialist, Busisa Moyo, said the early uptake reflects strong confidence in Zimbabwe’s premier trade platform. He indicated that between 20 and 30 percent of exhibitors are expected to come from outside the country.
“We have over 550 exhibitors already that have taken up space at this stage. A large chunk of the 20–30% will be foreign and we are looking for more,” he said.
Dr Moyo noted that bookings remain fluid, with some companies still assessing the exhibitor mix before committing.
“Calls are coming in; some people do wait to see who is there before they start moving and saying we are going to take up space, but so far so good,” he added.
He said growing demand has forced organisers to expand exhibition capacity to accommodate the surge in interest.
“We are seeing quite a large turnout and space is limited. We have had to put up extra pavilions, additional pavilions, so that’s a good sign in terms of space uptake and quality of exhibition as well,” he said.
Dr Moyo further explained that many exhibitors are now requesting bigger and more flexible spaces, prompting organisers to re-evaluate layouts and infrastructure.
“Our exhibitors also want bigger space that calls for innovation and thought on our part, where we can have larger spaces and more exhibitors as well,” he said.
He also highlighted the strategic importance of engaging the diplomatic community ahead of the fair, describing diplomats as essential partners in expanding Zimbabwe’s global trade footprint.
“It is important to engage diplomats because diplomats reach out to their private sector grouping, they are our gateway to connect to the private sectors from different countries,” he said.
According to Dr Moyo, embassies have remained central to repositioning the trade fair as a multi-stakeholder platform linking business and Government.
“They have been supporting us since we began this journey of repositioning ZITF as a multi-stakeholder platform that connects the local private sector with Government, but we also now have this angle of connecting businesses to diplomats so that we can have a confluence,” he said.
He added that increasing interest from private sector firms beyond traditional diplomatic representation, shows rising confidence in Zimbabwe’s trade ecosystem.
“Private sector companies are coming through now to connect with Zimbabwean enterprises and the local consumer public in Zimbabwe as well,” he said.
The 2026 edition of the trade showcase will run from 20 to 25 April 2026 at the Zimbabwe Conference and Exhibition Smart City in Bulawayo under the theme “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries.”
The event is expected to offer a major platform for investment promotion, business networking and international engagement as Zimbabwe continues positioning itself as a competitive destination for trade and investment. The ZITF remains one of the largest and most influential multi-sectoral exhibitions in sub-Saharan Africa.
Previous editions have attracted exhibitors and national delegations from countries including South Africa, Botswana, China, Malawi, Zambia, Brazil, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Egypt, India, Iran, Kenya, and Mozambique, among others.
