THE 27th edition of the Mining, Engineering and Transport (Mine Entra) exhibition, initially slated for this month in Bulawayo, has been postponed to a later date.
One of the organisers of the expo, the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) Company, said the decision to reschedule Mine Entra, which was due to run from the July 17 to 19 was made to avoid any potential clash of programmes for the upcoming SADC Industrialisation Week, a major regional event being hosted in Harare from July 28 to August 2.
The country’s prime mining industry showcase is organised by the Trade Fair Company in conjunction with the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development, and the Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe.
“ZITF Company wishes to inform exhibitors, visitors, buyers, delegates and all other stakeholders that the 27th edition of Mine Entra, originally scheduled for July 17-19, 2024 in Bulawayo has been postponed to a date yet to be confirmed.
“Consultations regarding suitable dates are underway at the highest level of Government and business leadership.
“This is to ensure the standard of the show and depth of interactions, discussions and interventions meet the highest standard possible.
“The SADC Industrialisation Week is expected to attract significant attention from industry leaders, government officials, and investors throughout the region,” the firm’s board chairman, Mr Busisa Moyo, said in a statement yesterday.
ZITF Company, he said, recognised the importance of Mine Entra and the SADC Industrialisation Week, and thus holding the two events during the same timeframe could potentially result in divided attendance and distract participants from each event.
Mr Moyo said postponing Mine Entra will ensure both events receive the participation they deserve, maximising the opportunities for attendees and exhibitors.
“This approach will allow participants to fully engage with each event without scheduling conflicts.
“The ZITF Company, with the guidance of the Ministry of Mines and Mining Development and in partnership with the Chamber of Mines Zimbabwe, remains committed to delivering a world-class mining exhibition that fosters collaboration, innovation, and growth,” he said.
Despite the rescheduling of Mine Entra, the ZITF Company said the expo will continue to run under the theme: “Unearthing Success: The Mining Value Chains, Innovation and Industrialisation Nexus”.
Mine Entra brings together local and international industry leaders, investors, and stakeholders to explore advancements and opportunities within the mining sector.
The mining showcase is considered a vital driver of resource-based industrialisation and serves as a platform to exhibit the latest advancements and innovations in the mining sector, on local and global scales.
Over the years, the expo has gained a solid reputation for bringing together influential figures in the mining industry to shape and improve Zimbabwe’s mining landscape.
As at June 18, 2024, the exhibition had attracted 176 exhibitors including nine foreign firms from China, South Africa and the United Kingdom compared to seven foreign exhibitors at the same time last year.
The mining industry is Zimbabwe’s major economic centrepiece contributing over 75 percent of national export earnings anchored by gold, which is the country’s biggest export earner expected to generate US$4 billion annually while platinum — the second largest export earner in 2023 generated US$2,1 billion against a projection of US$3 billion.