The ManicaPost
Liberty Dube Post Correspondent
PREPARATIONS for the fifth edition of Manicaland Youth Expo slated for May 18 to 20 have intensified with youths from regional countries such as Malawi, Zambia and Mozambique expected to join local exhibitors.
The event which will be held at Mutare Hall is expected to draw more than 200 exhibitors from across the province’s districts.
Manicaland Youth Development Officer, Mrs Primrose Ndoro said the expo would coincide with a Zim-Honey symposium where youths involved in honey production are also expected to attend.
“This expo promises to be a bigger and better edition. We are roping in youths from countries such as Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia to be part of the exhibition. This is an opportunity for anyone who is earning a decent living to showcase what they are into while building synergies and exchanging ideas. The expo is also open for established business persons, buyers and suppliers.
“Youths involved in honey production are expected to be part of the expo since it will be running concurrently with the Zim-Honey symposium. We subsequently invited youths from the three countries for cross-pollination of ideas. Registration is already underway,” she said. The expo is meant to promote young entrepreneurs, Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as well as promoting the formalisation of the informal sector back-yard projects through interaction with youth-oriented development partners and the corporate world.
The three-day expo will run under the theme: “Identifying and nurturing champions of economic empowerment “Embracing a future economy”.
Minister of Youth, Indigenisation and Economic Empowerment Youth, Cde Patrick Zhuwawo is expected to officially open the expo on May 19.
Last year’s exhibition ran under the theme: “Tapping youth potential through opening socio-economic networks; a strategy for localising the 10-point plan.”
Over 1 000 youths from the seven districts of Manicaland thronged the venue to present their projects. Lorraine Hove was crowned entrepreneur of the year.
