BULAWAYO - The Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) opened in Bulawayo, the country's second largest city, on Tuesday with Zimbabwe's largest trade partner, South Africa trailing behind China which is this year's largest foreign exhibitor at the trade fair.

China occupies 1,061m² of space, nearly a 40% increase from the 600m² it had last year. South Africa exhibitors, led by Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe, have taken up 800m² of exhibition space - the same as last year.

Figures released by the Department of Trade and Industry indicate that despite Zimbabwe's uncertain economic environment, South African firms over the past three years have been able to lap up lucrative deals from the five-day trade fair, which is due to end on Saturday. Deals sealed from the fair by South African companies amounted to R6.6m in 2011, R7.1m in 2012 and R55.6m in 2013.

Zimbabwe Industry, Trade and Commerce Minister Michael Bimha said on Tuesday that this year's fair would provide a platform for potential investors interested in Zimbabwe to network, explore new markets and sources of investment and technology transfers.

The trade fair is being held under the theme "new ideas to new heights - progress through innovation" and will officially be opened on Friday by Republic of Congo President Denis Sassou, who will be accompanied by President Robert Mugabe.

"On the investment front, Zimbabwe is endowed with vast opportunities in all sectors ... manufacturing, agriculture, agro-processing, infrastructure development and tourism", said Mr Bimha.

Foreign exhibitors at this year's fair include South Africa, Congo-Brazzaville, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Poland, Bangladesh, India, US, Botswana and Nigeria.

Economic observers said exhibitors at this year's trade fair would find themselves dealing with a new economic order, given the rapid rise of the informal sector in Zimbabwe.

A recent World Bank report indicated that 46% of the population's working age group was employed in the informal sector - a high figure in contrast to South Africa at 17% and Malawi at 13%. H&E Bloch senior partner Eric Bloch said on Tuesday that this year's fair had deliberately been slanted towards promoting the informal sector. "It has put an emphasis in the informal sector and small- to medium-scale enterprises which we have not seen in recent years, foreign investors and exhibitors will have to navigate into this new untapped part of Zimbabwe's economy," said Dr Bloch.

"This will include a bias on their part in reducing costs and promoting the goods provided by the informal sector."

In March Finance Minister Patrick Chinamasa indicated that the old economy was dead and in its place a new economic order had surfaced "This is an economic revolution, and we need to learn how to deal with the small man. The old economy is dead," Mr Chinamasa said.