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Business Correspondent

National trade development and promotion agency, ZimTrade, is ramping up efforts to boost the visibility of Zimbabwean products in regional and emerging markets such as Malaysia.

The focus on regional markets is expected to unlock vast business opportunities, leveraging on the growing appetite for Zimbabwean products and proximity to most countries in the SADC region.

In the second half of this year, ZimTrade will facilitate over 50 local companies to participate in trade promotion events taking place in Zambia, Mozambique, and Botswana.

ZimTrade chief executive officer, Mr Allan Majuru, said the interest in Zimbabwean products has been growing in regional markets and they will capitalise on the good reviews to increase the visibility of local products during the planned trade fairs.

“The interest in Zimbabwean products within the region has been steadily growing, largely due to the high quality and standards maintained by local manufacturers.

“We are now leveraging the positive reviews that Zimbabwean products have garnered, along with our proximity to these markets, to push an even greater volume of products.

“This approach will not only capitalise on the existing reputation of our products but also ensures that we can efficiently and effectively meet the demand in nearby markets.” 

Mr Majuru further said the planned activities will also ride on the successes recorded in regional trade missions held this year.

“We are confident that we will record huge deals at the scheduled trade fairs, and we will ride on successes recorded in already concluded business linkage mission .This year, we have participated in trade fairs such as the Agritech Expo in Zambia, and the recently held Zimbabwe Outward Seller Mission to Tete province, where deals worth millions were concluded during the programmes,” said Mr Majuru.

In Zambia, ZimTrade is facilitating over 25 companies to participate in the country’s premier trade exhibition, scheduled for July 31 – August 5 2024. The Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show (ZACS) is a multi-sectoral trade fair that will provide Zimbabwean companies with a unique window to showcase their products and engage leading buyers in the market.

Specific sectors targeted for the fair include the manufacturing sector, agriculture inputs and implements, fast-moving consumer goods, mining, construction and engineering, personal protective equipment and wear, and services.

Zimbabwean companies have taken part in the fair annually, with figures showing a consistent growth in exports to Zambia.

Statistics available on Trade Map show that Zimbabwe’s exports to Zambia have grown from US$58,35 million in 2017 to US$142,36 million in 2023.Further to this, ZimTrade is facilitating the participation of over 20 local companies at the Maputo International Trade Fair (FACIM), to be held from August 28 to September 3, 2024.

The fair is expected to further open trade opportunities in Mozambique, as the country is becoming a strong trade partner for Zimbabwe.

Figures released by Zimstat show that exports to Mozambique have increased by 80,7 percent between January and April this year, compared to the same period last year.

FACIM is a multi-sector trade fair in Mozambique that seeks to promote business opportunities with various brands, services and products.

It brings together major industry players, innovations, and market trends and offers a unique business platform that allows participants to expand their network of business contacts and enter the market.

ZimTrade is also planning for the participation of local exporters at the Windhoek Agricultural and Livestock Show (WALS) 2024, taking place from September 27 to October 5, 2024, in Windhoek, Namibia. The local participants will be drawn from sectors such as horticulture, arts and crafts, processed foods, clothing, leather, agriculture implements and services.

The 20th Malaysia International Halal Showcase (MIHAS), taking place from  September 17-20 in Kuala Lumpu will provide valuable networking opportunities allowing local companies to actively explore potential business partnerships.

Last year, ZimTrade facilitated the first-time participation of three Zimbabwean companies to exhibit their products in the honey, fresh produce, and herbs sectors at MIHAS.

Positive reviews by buyers in Malaysia who interacted with Zimbabwean exhibitors indicated the potential for local products to perform well in the market.