Story by Thubelihle Mhodi
ZIMBABWE’S trade promotional body, ZIMTRADE, is moving around the country, capacitating businesspeople with knowledge on how to tap into the export market.
ZimTrade hosted an Export Awareness Breakfast Seminar in Bulawayo this Thursday, aiming to equip local businesses with market insights and export opportunities for economic growth.
Held under the theme, ‘Market Scans,’ the seminar was attended by various saw stakeholders, including representatives from the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC).
“It was quite a privilege to get to know and understand the available markets out there in Singapore, Mozambique, and Uganda, in terms of what the market prefers and what we need to do, as well as the procedures for one to get registered with the export market. We have benefited a lot from this seminar; they have managed to scan the markets for exports that we truly need. We have already identified Mozambique. I know we will be going there to increase our exports. Being part of this seminar has helped us because we are going to grow our businesses by having more markets. ZIMRA shed light, we used to think ZIMRA only wanted money, but now we have come to understand that, and how to navigate the journey,” one of the beneficiaries noted.
ZimTrade Manager, Jacque Nyathi, said every province is expected to contribute to the country’s export basket.
“As ZimTrade, we are asking what opportunities lie in those different markets. The surveys are there to guide us and provide the required information that will help our exporters make informed decisions as they tap into these new markets. His Excellency the President challenged us to ensure that each province is known for exports, and as a result of that challenge, we have embarked on massive capacitation at the provincial level to ensure each province can participate in exports,” Nyathi said.
Exports contribute 28 percent of Zimbabwe’s Gross Domestic Product, hence, the government continues to call for local enterprises to produce for both the local and export markets.
