Eighteen months after its declaration of independence, Rhodesia is staging the Central Africa International Trade Fair in Bulawayo, with the objective of demonstrating that, despite trade sanctions imposed by Britain and some other nations, the country is still economically healthy.

Twenty-five new Rhodesian industries are participating in this year's show, and the Fair is a shop window for a large range of goods which are now being manufactured in Rhodesia, as sanctions hit both imports and exports. Much of the business previously done with Britain, for example, seems now to have been taken over by South African and Portuguese companies.

And highlighted at the Fair are a range of Japanese cars which are being imported into Rhodesia in place of British vehicles.

Throughout the exhibition, numerous placards carry the slogan "Made in Rhodesia for Export" and "Manufactured in Independent Rhodesia".

The British stand at the permanent fair site in Bulawayo remains empty.

More than 150,000 people are expected to visit the Trade Fair, which the Fair President, Sir Frederick Crawford recently declared, was to show that "Rhodesia is winning".