By Melo Reporter
THE Western Province Tourism, Trade and lnvestment Expo that took place from 10th to 15th October, 2022 in Mongu has helped boost the photography business and buttressed the social media about the happenings in the Province, said Kelvin Kamayoyo, Expo Advisor-Western Province. The week was high of productive activities and most local social media platforms were busy tracking the sequence of the Expo events.
Mr. Kamayoyo noted that it was possible to start a business in Western Province and even make more money. According to Holly Riordan (2018), “Andreas Gursky is known for his landscape photographs and frequently shoots from a high vantage point in order to capture as much as possible. In 2011, he sold a piece for 4.3 million dollars, which is the highest anyone has ever paid for a photograph. Normally, his work sells for upwards of a million dollars, making him a well-known name in the industry.”
The Expo was the first of its kind in the Province and was held under the theme: “Rapid Economic Transformation through increased home-grown entrepreneurship, value addition and trade”. The Expo was on Monday, 10th October, 2022 officially opened by His Excellency, Mr. Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia. Undeniably the Expo has left an indelible investment and business environment that going forward will continue to experience a positive impact on both the economy and culture.
Mr. Kamayoyo said the photography business is characterised by low entry barriers, seasonal in nature especially in less developed economic jurisdictions and requires just little investment capital to start operations. He argued that photography is equally a viable business and yet less costly to start and hence encouraged both women and youths in the Province to consider seizing the opportunity this flexible type of business presents in order to economically empower themselves through self employment.
Mr. Kamayoyo said the photography business is known world over to have the ability to providing job opportunities and countries like France and England are doing exceedingly well in this very business sphere. He further argued that Barotseland has beautiful Barotse Plains, sites and rich cultural heritage that can be utilised for photography business platforms comparable to a diverse range of topography and landscapes that provide perfect locations for photography in Australia and New Zealand.
