Participation and Hosting International Expos
- An Expo is a global event that aims at bringing people together and share ideas, experiences while educating the public, entertaining while promoting progress and fostering international cooperation. It is organized by a host country that invites other countries to exhibit. However, due to the diversity of its participants Expos offer a multifaceted event where unique exhibitions, diplomatic encounters, business meetings, public debates and live shows take place at the same time. Expos basically are a marketing platform that is devised to sell specific ideas and products that members of the public can recognise and associate with a specific country. Normally countries thrive to invest and display those unique aspects peculiar to their Nations at these expos cognisant of the impact and impression created by diverse activities. In addition expos to a greater extend are platforms that promote freedom of expression.
The main feature of this measure is that an Expo brings the whole world together to devise solutions to a fundamental challenge of humanity. The major challenge is then coined to be the theme of the Expo. In Milan 2015(Italy) where Zimbabwe exhibited at its pavilion mainly the crocodile burger and baobab drink, the theme was "Feeding the planet, energy for life". Zimbabwe also participated in Shanghai Expo in 2010 whose theme was ‘Better City – Better Life’ and China created a "Shanghai Manual - A Guide for Sustainable urban development in the 21st Century" that was availed to participants. 192 countries as well as 50 international organizations participated with more than 73 million people having had visited. In 2015 Zimbabwe also participated at the 56th International Art Exhibition in Biennale (Venice).
Participation in expos is paramount because through the expo conferences, workshops, debates as well as diplomatic and professional meetings that are organized participants from different countries exchange ideas, come up with solutions and develop new cooperation ties. New networks are vital for the social and economic development of every nation because normally the ties extend beyond expos translating to signing of memorandums for different aspects like Cultural Exchange programme or business contracts that foster nation development.
An Expo is one of the few events that attract millions of visitors hence posing a critical opportunity for a country to strengthen its international image and strategically position itself as a key player in the international arena. However apart from participating in International Expos, Zimbabwe can bid to be the hosting country and that will boost the improvement of infrastructures and transportation networks that will benefit its citizens even after the Expo. Also it will generate employment and job creation and improves business and investment opportunities of the country.
Expos are also refreshing, informative and educative. Various entertainment activities are always lined up to give visitors a refreshing feeling as they move around pavilions gathering information as well as being educated. Expos pose an opportunity for countries to strengthen their cooperation ties with the host country and other participating countries, as well as promote their local products
The amount for Bienalle Exhibition that was expended amounted to $300 000. Part of the funding was used for mobility of the visual artists who were exhibiting and these included Chikonzero Chazunguza, Masimba Hwati and Gareth Nyandoro.
g. Name of NGOs and /or private companies engaged in the implementation of the measure
Name Type of Entity Type of Involvement
Venice is mainly funded by the Government $270 000
Culture Fund Civil Society $7455
Venice is an important showplace that the country needs to keep participating. Besides benefiting the individual artists it has benefited the Zimbabwean visual arts as a whole a lot of collaborative exhibitions were born out of Venice. Many of the artists who have shown in Venice have been very successful in their career