Harare (New Ziana) – Zimbabwe’s participation at Expo Dubai, which kicks off in the United Arab Emirates next month, is a good opportunity to advance the country’s re-engagement agenda with the international community, an official has said.

Delayed by a year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dubai Expo is the world’s largest meeting place offering several opportunities such as networking and promoting international relationships.

It will run from October this year to March 2022.

Already, government has secured the commitment to participate in the expo from several local companies in various sectors including tourism.

Zimbabwe Tourism Authority managing director convention bureau Tessa Chikaponya told an Expo Dubai media sensitisation workshop that;“(We should also use the expo to) promote Zimbabwe’s re-engagement agenda, this is very important.”

“We need to connect with the rest of the world through workshops, meetings and various events. We need to engage,” she said.

She said apart from pursuing the re-engagement agenda, the expo should also be an opportunity for Zimbabwe to tell its
“own story,” through highlighting massive investment opportunities available in various sectors in the country.

“We have the majestic Victoria Falls which is one of the seven wonders of the world, the smoke that thunders, it is actually a draw card for tourists and we need not to be shy to talk about it, we need to talk about it, tell people about the Victoria Falls the attractions around it and other places including the Eastern Highlands and the mythical Kariba Dam because when people come as tourists they end up as investors at the end of the day,” she said.

“We have the opportunities that we have to sell to the world.”

Commissioner general for Zimbabwe at Expo Dubai Marry Mubi said the setting up of Zimbabwe’s pavilion was almost done.

She said Zimbabwe’s delegation will be leaving for Dubai soon to finalise preparations.

“The container (of goods) that has arrived in Dubai has a number of our products, some coming from the SME sector, some from the more established companies that will showcase Zimbabwean brands,” she said.

Zimbabwe’s National Day, at Expo 2020 Dubai, will be celebrated on 14 March, 2022 and will be graced by President Emerson Mnangagwa.

Before the pandemic forced the event to be postponed, organisers had expected 25 million visits during the course of the six-month international fair
New Ziana