Harare (New Ziana) –Government has ramped up efforts to lure the private sector to participate at Expo Dubai, which kicks off in the United Arab Emirates in October.

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 at least 10 local tourism operators.

“Ministries are mobilising private sector players under their purview to participate at Expo Dubai 2020 in general, and at the Zimbabwe Trade and Investment Forum in particular,” Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Minister Monica Mutsvangwa said.

“Steering committees to mobilise private sector participation have been set up for the following sectors: Industry and Commerce; Agriculture; Mining; Women Affairs and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs); Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture; and Higher and Tertiary Education.”

Mutsvangwa said Zimbabwe was aiming to showcase its investment opportunities and cultural diversity among other things at the expo.

“Zimbabwe’s National Day, at Expo 2020 Dubai, will be celebrated on 14 March, 2022 and will be graced by His Excellency the President (Emerson Mnangagwa),” she said.

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

Dubai Expo director general Reem Al Hashimy is still holding onto the pre-pandemic target.

“The world has gone through these galactical shifts over the last year but now with vaccines being rollout, we believe that situation will settle by October. We believe the situation will be far more positive by then.”
New Ziana