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Philippe Van Damme

Business Reporter
The Zimbabwe-European Business Information Centre (Zim-EBIC) will be jointly inaugurated in Bulawayo today by Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha and the Head of the European Union Delegation in Zimbabwe, Ambassador Philippe Van Damme.

Zim-EBIC aims at increasing the capacity of Zimbabwean exporters (existing and potential) to the EU to establish mutually beneficial linkages with their European counterparts.

The platform will also enhance knowledge sharing on thematic areas such as EU Market Intelligence; EU Trade Fairs; ESA-EU interim Economic Partnership Agreement (ESA-iEPA); GSP; Tariffs; NTBs; and opportunistic use of experts from EU member states as well as experienced Zimbabwean entrepreneurs (peer-to-peer coaching).

The initiative is part of the 3 million Euros European Union’s support to Trade and Private Sector Development Project (TPSDP), which is being implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC).

Similar to the Zim-EBIC set up in Harare, which was launched in August last year, the information centre in Bulawayo will be housed within ZimTrade’s Regional Office. It will form an integral part of the Trade Information Centre to benefit companies within the  Matabeleland and Midlands  Region.

ZimTrade chief executive officer, Ms Sithembile Pilime, expressed her appreciation to the European Union and underscored that the development is expected to place ZimTrade in a strong position to enhance service delivery as well as provide market intelligence to its clients.

Since the inaugural launch of the Zim-EBIC last year, the monthly usage of the centre has increased by more than 100 percent as more companies are appreciating the improved quality of services.

Furthermore, on-site demonstrations have been conducted to coach business people and policy makers on  how to utilise the centre’s resources effectively.