The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) will unveil a new investment facilitation platform at the ongoing 2026 Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), introducing a structured “Value Connect Lounge.” The lounge is designed to move investor engagement beyond exhibition displays toward direct deal-making and transaction facilitation.
The initiative marks a strategic shift in Zimbabwe’s investment promotion approach, positioning ZIDA not only as a marketing agency but as an active intermediary between investors, and government stakeholders. The platform is anchored in the agency’s mandate under the ZIDA Act [Chapter 14:38], which empowers it to promote and coordinate investment into the country.
Unlike conventional trade fair stands, the Value Connect Lounge is intended to function as a controlled, high-level engagement space where investors can meet vetted project developers and engage in structured discussions on bankable opportunities. According to ZIDA, the platform will support direct investor-project matching, screening and presentation of investment-ready proposals, and curated business-to-business and business-to-government engagements aimed at accelerating negotiations and improving deal closure rates.
The Lounge will showcase a pipeline of investment opportunities across priority sectors including energy, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, infrastructure, and services. It will also highlight flagship national initiatives such as the Business and Knowledge Process Outsourcing (BKPO) framework, which government officials have positioned as a potential driver of digital services exports, ICT sector growth, and employment creation.
ZIDA officials are expected to play a prominent role across multiple high-level engagements at ZITF 2026. The Chief Investment Promotion Officer will present at the Innovators Forum, while the agency’s Chief Executive Officer will participate in investor-focused discussions and headline the Zimbabwe–Botswana Business Forum, which is expected to explore cross-border investment cooperation and regional value chain integration. The CEO will also engage in discussions targeting SMEs, youth enterprises, and rural economic participation, reflecting a stated policy emphasis on inclusive investment growth.
The agency’s participation comes against a broader backdrop of regional economic diplomacy, with the trade fair set to be officially opened by the President of Botswana, a development seen as reinforcing growing economic ties within the Southern African region and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework. ZIDA has described this context as an opportunity to deepen regional value chains and expand market access for Zimbabwean and regional investors.
The Value Connect Lounge will be accessible to registered participants free of charge, with ZIDA encouraging investors to pre-book engagement sessions through its official channels or directly contact designated representatives for tailored meetings.
The Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency operates under the Office of the President and is mandated to promote and facilitate investment into Zimbabwe. It provides investment facilitation services through a one-stop centre covering licensing, regulatory approvals, company registration, and post-investment support, and oversees investment structured under general investments, public-private partnerships, and special economic zones.
