Zimpapers Logo

The Herald, May 8, 1981

A TRIP to China to promote the Zimbabwe tobacco industry was “highly successful”, Mr Roy Ashburner, vice president of the Zimbabwe Tobacco Association, said yesterday.

Commenting on a Sunday Mail report on the possible sale of tobacco to the People’s Republic of China, he said the association did not accept orders or sell tobacco.

“Our visit to China was investigatory and made with a view to promoting the tobacco industry as a whole,” he said.

“In this context it was highly successful.”

Mr Ashburner said while China was the largest producer of tobacco in the world, they had a shortage due to poor weather conditions, which prevailed during their last growing season.

“They are in the market for substantial amounts of reasonably priced tobacco. Our local merchants are aware of this position and have, no doubt, already contacted their Chinese agents,” he added.

“If at all possible we will accommodate China and will welcome their participation in our market.”

The mail report said Peking had placed a “substantial” order for Zimbabwe tobacco following a trade mission to that country by nine delegates from the Associated Chambers of Commerce of Zimbabwe.

The total amount of tobacco sold on both auction floors since they opened would not be sufficient to accommodate any “substantial” order from China, a tobacco trade source said yesterday.

LESSONS FOR TODAY

• Business trips can be very beneficial in generating new business or strengthening existing business links. It can also open up new markets and can be a whole learning experience.
• The delegation from the Zimbabwe tobacco industry managed to entice the Chinese to take an interest in local tobacco which resulted in huge orders.
• China is the biggest financier in terms of tobacco production and is also the biggest importer of the local crop.
• Tobacco remains the largest foreign currency earner in the country in the agriculture sector.