Tapiwa Chirume
STAFF WRITER
THE Furniture Industry Development Initiative of Zimbabwe (FIDI Zim) will host an inaugural Zimbabwe Furniture Conference and Expo (ZFCX) in Harare next month.
The one-day conference and exhibition is set for the Harare International Conference Centre (HICC) on September 17, under the theme “Connecting the furniture value chain and powering the industry”.
Organisers said the event would bring together manufacturers, timber producers, suppliers, retailers, designers, investors, policymakers, development partners, financial institutions and consumers on a single platform to discuss strategies for growing Zimbabwe’s furniture industry.
“The ZFCX serves as a key platform that connects and showcases every stage of the furniture value chain, fostering collaboration, investment and market growth across the sectors. So the expo, which is coming up in September, is a premier industry conference that brings together multiple players under one roof to showcase innovation, quality craftsmanship and the latest trends in furniture design, while creating opportunities for exhibitors and visitors alike,” said FIDI Zimbabwe chief executive officer Jacob Esau.
“This event is important for us as Zimbabwe because we have exceptional talent in furniture manufacturing and interior designing, and this conference and expo will help promote local businesses, encourage investment, create networking opportunities within the industry and also support the ‘Buy Made in Zimbabwe Furniture’ initiative by giving local manufacturers a platform to reach new markets.”
Esau also stated that the conference and expo came out of a realisation that Zimbabwe’s furniture industry has significant potential to contribute towards industrialisation, employment creation, export growth and value addition owing to the country’s abundant timber resources, growing manufacturing base and skilled workforce.
He noted that despite the potential, the sector continues to face challenges that include fragmented industry coordination, limited investment, increasing imports, inadequate market access, technology gaps and weak export competitiveness.
“The conference will seek to promote Zimbabwe’s furniture industry both locally and internationally while showcasing innovation, strengthening collaboration across the value chain and encouraging investment into furniture manufacturing and related industries,” said business development director, Alois Burutsa.
“Other objectives include promoting quality standards, facilitating business-to-business networking, supporting export readiness and creating market access opportunities for local manufacturers.
“Key discussion areas will focus on industry development and competitiveness, local manufacturing, import substitution, innovation, digital transformation, value addition, export development, quality standards and financing opportunities within the sector.
“The accompanying expo will provide exhibitors with an opportunity to showcase furniture products, timber and wood products, machinery, interior décor solutions, manufacturing technologies and business support services,” Burutsa added.
More than 500 participants are expected to attend the event, including government ministries and agencies, architects, hospitality sector representatives, small and medium enterprises, entrepreneurs and property developers.
Organisers believe the conference and expo will strengthen collaboration across the industry, generate new business and investment opportunities, promote local value addition, and position Zimbabwe as a regional furniture manufacturing hub.