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Ms Sithembile Pilime

Business Reporter
ZimTrade will lead Zimbabwe’s participation in the Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show (ZACS) to be held in Lusaka from 29 July to 3 August 2015. The show will be held under the theme, “Innovation beyond the Golden Jubilee”, in recognition of the fact that Zambia celebrated 50 years of independence in 2014.

Twenty-four Zimbabwean companies drawn from the clothing; processed foods; agricultural implements and inputs; building and construction; wood to furniture; engineering as well as leather and leather products sectors will be showcasing their products at this event.

ZACS is a multi-sectoral event, which showcases agricultural machinery and implements, industrial equipment, plastic products, forestry products, livestock, poultry products, horticulture, motor vehicles, trading, financial services, as well as fishing products, among others. In 2014, the event attracted over 1 000 Zambian and foreign exhibitors who showcased their products and services, while over 200 000 visitors, including foreigners, attended the show.

ZimTrade chief executive officer Ms Sithembile Priscilla Pilime expressed her contentment with the interest shown by Zimbabwean companies in participating in the show.

“Companies’ interest to participate in this show is quite pleasing. It demonstrates their willingness and commitment to explore and/or consolidate their presence in the Zambian market,” she said. “It also shows that the market research that we conducted in Zambia was found to be useful by companies,” added Ms Pilime.

ZimTrade conducted the Zambian market research in April 2015 to establish the export potential of Zimbabwean products and services. The research identified opportunities in areas such as, among others: mining supplies including protective wear; fashion and corporate wear; construction industry supplies; manufacturing inputs; agricultural implements and inputs; fast moving consumer goods as well as professional services (extension services, artisanal skills and hospitality ser- vices).

In addition, the research indicated that Zambia imports about 90 percent of its manufactured goods and, in 2014, the country’s total import bill was $9,5 billion. With an estimated population of 14,6 million, a Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $25,5 billion and a GDP per capita of $1 800, Zambia presents a huge potential for expansion of Zimbabwe’s export capacity.

Trade between Zimbabwe and Zambia is governed by the COMESA and SADC trade agreements, which offer preferential treatment for qualifying products into each other’s market. Zambia is the fourth largest export destination for Zimbabwean products accounting for 3,3 percent of total exports in 2013 and 3,4 percent in 2014.