At least 120 players have confirmed their participation at the ZimBuild Expo that begins in Harare on Thursday.
The expo will be held from September 22 to 25. Infrastructure Development Bank of Zimbabwe (IDBZ) chairperson, Willard Manungo said the ZimBuild Expo presented a platform for players in the sector to dialogue and network.
He said synergies developed as a result of this expo would enhance the construction sector’s involvement in planning and budgeting activities at national level.
IDBZ is the lead sponsor of the event. He said the bank had been actively involved in infrastructure development in areas of transport, energy, housing, water, communication and agriculture and had a mandate to mobilise financial support for infrastructure development.
“The bank realises that as the country eases out of the economic challenges, the biggest challenge the Zimbabwean construction industry is facing is not a shortage of projects, but amongst other things serious undercapitalisation and limited access to long-term finance,” said Manungo.
“We will, therefore continue to be involved in programmes that are aligned to the attainment of socio-economic growth at national level.” Manungo said the industry required lines of credit for replacement of obsolete equipment and to finance recapitalisation in order that it could rebuild its skills base, starting with the retention of the available workforce and luring back some of the professionals that went abroad in search of greener pastures.
ZimBuild chairperson Martin Manuhwa said the expo was an opportunity for the sector to take stock of itself.
“We are almost sold out for professional participants at the expo. This is an opportunity for the industry to communicate with the right people and service providers to unveil what is available from the local market and what is not available,” said Manuhwa.
