Government continues to source and harness export markets for local products, goods and services across borders, through raft measures including participating at regional and International exhibitions, conferences and conventions.
This comes as a delegation from Zimbabwe, led by the Secretary for Health and Child Care, Air commodore, Dr Jasper Chimedza, comprising of Inter-ministerial and private sector representation participated at the Arab Health Exhibition and Congress for 2023 which ran from Monday 30 to 2 February 2023.
The Exhibition at World Trade Centre in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai, was an International platform that brings together the world’s leading healthcare products’ manufacturers, services providers and seekers to showcase cutting-edge innovations, interact, network and build strategic partnerships.
The exhibition was characterised by side conferences, side meetings and many other activities, which provide great opportunity for marketing the country’s innovations, attracting the much-needed investment and creating synergies with the world’s leading health sector players.
Using the triple helix approach, Ministries including the Health and Child Care, Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development and Industry and Commerce have come together to market the countries as a destination for lucrative health sector investment in line with the mantra Zimbabwe is open for business and engagement and re-engagement drive towards vision 2030. The country is showcasing its products, innovations, human resource capital and investment put towards product innovation so far is poised to have customers and end-users experiencing the capabilities of its various products, first hand as well as present on the International market through reaching out to new and potential customers from across the globe.
Worthy noting Zim delegation was made up of both exhibitors and visitors to make up a rich team that could bring about the desired impact and results. Amongst exhibitors, were the universities' innovation hubs (UZ and HIT) and Verify Engineering under the banner of the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education and 10 local pharmaceutical manufacturers (Datlabs, Caps, Cospharm, Graniteside Chemicals, Gulf Drug, Varichem, Pharmanova, Plus Five, SAPPS and Zimbabwe Pharmaceuticals) under the banner of National Pharmaceutical Company (NatPharm) which is ably supported by Ministry of Industry and Commerce.
The National Biotechnology Authority also exhibited together with the Cannabis Association of Zimbabwe and Wild Leaf, a company with operations in Kadoma, while Satewave Technologies, a private sector player also exhibited its smart health solutions.
Amongst the none-exhibiting team were Ministries of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and Health and Child Care officials drawn from various areas of service delivery, ranging from human resources, clinical practice (anaesthesia, surgery, radiology), laboratory, pharmacy, hospital equipment and public relations.
With over 3000 exhibitors taking part in the event, 2023’s expo was regarded to be the biggest in the history of the annual event in terms of numbers which were expected to surpass the previous year’s record since over two decades of holding the event.
In 2022, over 185 countries were represented, over 40 254 visitors walked through the gates, with over 7,7million digital impressions generating over $781 million revenue.
The exhibition comes at the back of a devastating COVID -19 pandemic which negatively impacted the participation of several players.
As Government continues to promote and champion (locally and Internationally) local manufacturers of medical products, goods and services, it is imperative to maintain the national foot print on the International arena through exhibitions to derive more benefits from such platforms.
