Thursday, Apr 08, 2010
HARARE, Zimbabwe (AFP)--Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will officially open Zimbabwe's main trade show this month, state television reported Thursday.
"Iran's President Mr. Mahmoud Ahmadinejad will officially open this year's Zimbabwe International Trade Fair to be held in Bulawayo," the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corp. said in a news bulletin.
"This was revealed by a cabinet minister after Iran's new ambassador Mohammed Najav presented his credentials to President Robert Mugabe at State House today."
The trade fair was a big calendar event in Zimbabwe, but has become more localized in recent years as the country battled an economic crisis which saw inflation peaking to 231 million percent.
Zimbabwe enjoys good relations with Iran, as well as several Asian countries after launching a "Look East" policy in response to its isolation which followed Harare's controversial land reforms and disputed 2002 polls.
The fair, from April 20 to 24, will be officially opened on April 23.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
08-04-10 1613GMT
