The 2018 (HAS) which drew over 50 exhibitors ended with calls for the economic actors in Matabeleland North Province to be fully prepared for the proposed devolution of power by doubling their efforts in enhancing production across all sectors including agriculture.
Running under the theme, “Leveraging the New Economic Order,” the platform saw strong calls for the various economic stakeholders in the province to contribute to the realisation of the export led economic transformation.
Guest of honour at the official opening ceremony Mrs Siphathisiwe Nkomo challenged the agricultural stakeholders to work towards boosting production in order to produce more exports for the country in line with the national vision.
“We need to focus our energies towards increasing production in order to earn more foreign currency from exports,” she Nkomo.
HAS chairman Mr Hebert Sansole commended the various stakeholders for supporting the provincial expo and challenged the economic actors from Matabeleland North to position themselves to benefit from the prosed devolution of power.
“The theme is calling on all to join in the new dispensation and add value to our products. Devolution is coming to the province we should be ready to take it forward,” he said.
HAS has implored the exhibitors to consider putting up permanent structures and also appealed to the corporate world to assist in the setting up of SMEs and a home industries hall.
Several entities and individuals got certificates and prizes after being adjudged winners in different categories which included SMEs, environment, communications, security, training and financial services.
The just ended 2018 Matabeleland North Expo was held from the 8th to the 11th of August.