By HELEN ZULU –
THE 90th Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show started on a low note yesterday, with many exhibitors still fine-tuning their stands.
A Times of Zambia crew that conducted a survey at the showgrounds in Lusaka yesterday found some companies still finishing up their stands.
The preparatory works were found at different stages with some exhibitors still painting the walls to rebrand the stands while others were still working on other facilities.
The “early bird” exhibitors had, however, already set up their stands and had started attending to a number of early visitors.
On the other hand, the Agricultural and Commercial Society of Zambia (ACSZ), as the organiser of the event, seems to have done its homework well.
The preparations for the official opening of the show by Namibian President Hage Geingob on Saturday were almost complete, while the rehabilitation of the seating arrangement in the main arena have been completed.
About 1,000 companies are expected to exhibit at Zambia’s premier show this year.
The show, which is being held under the theme ‘Managing environment for growth’, is expected to end on August 1, 2016.
ACSZ president Ben Shoko said in an interview on Monday that 850 companies had by then confirmed participation and that the society was still receiving late entries.
He said 16 countries, which include Egypt, Ghana, Italy, Pakistan, South Africa, Botswana, China, Namibia, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, Hong Kong, Brazil, Nigeria and Zimbabwe, had confirmed participation.
Mr Shoko said this year’s show would see 80 per cent of women exhibit in the cattle section, which he said was a positive development.
The society has spent K8 million on rehabilitation of the infrastructure in readiness for this year’s show.