Online Reporter
Robin Muchetu, [email protected]
ZIMBABWEAN businesses should take advantage of trade opportunities available within the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to drive exports of value added products and build credible relations that will enable continued business between the two economies.
This was highlighted during the Zimbabwe Business Council in Dubai (Zibco) Indaba held in Bulawayo on Thursday where business people met with officials from the Council to explore how more Zimbabwean businesses can reach the UAE market, build credible commercial relationships and use these to grow.
Zibco is a UAE government-established institution and regulated by the Dubai government and Dubai Chambers in particular. Their role is to speak on behalf of Zimbabwean-owned businesses within the UAE and beyond, particularly from a bilateral point of view. They are the voice of businesses when it comes to accessing institutions in the UAE and establishing relationships between the two countries.
Zibco-UAE chairman Mr Simbarashe Makahamadze told delegates that 50 percent of trade between Zimbabwe and the UAE is driven by gold and diamonds in the mining sector and there is an opportunity to diversify the trade.
“When we look at the current trade numbers between Zimbabwe and the UAE, 48 percent of our exports are going to the UAE. Now the challenge we’re looking at, or that we’re addressing today is to say if 50 percent of that trade is driven by gold and diamonds by the mining sector, how do we diversify that export?” he said.
“When you look at the global statistics in terms of aviation, we are looking at one of the busiest airports in the world, with more than 19 million passengers for 2025. That confirms the hub capacity of Dubai and of course the biggest port in the region, Jebel Ali port, which is a place that we are also looking at in terms of utilisation by our Zimbabwean exporters,” said Mr Makahamadze.
He said the UAE market is not just about bringing in products but it is also very relational with efforts underway to look at how exporters can find a footing in Jebel Ali free zone, which is next to the port and find a footing to give them access to the market.
Food exports were identified as the next biggest area Zimbabwean businesses must focus on as the UAE imports about 90 percent of its food.
“So, when we look at exports, food and food security is one of the key strategic pillars for the UAE economy, and this is a place that we believe we can plug in and deliver value, and at the same time extract value from the same market. UAE imports more than 90 percent of its food,” said Mr Makhamadze.
“So, as Zimbabweans, as producers, how do we become part of that conversation and the forecast is also quite informing. We are looking at a 4.8 percent compound average growth rate, which means again this is continued growth that we need to tap into and we have some of the key categories that we then need to focus on,” he added.
“Sometimes we just talk about fruits and vegetables or agri-products, but there’s macadamia nuts, citrus fruits, moringa, and baobab. You know our specialty, herbs, I was fortunate enough to grow in a community where herbs were very critical for our well-being before things changed. But we still have markets that are looking at those herbs as premium products that should be received within the market.”
Mr Makahamadze said since precious metals and mining already are key drivers there is a need for Zimbabwean players to look beyond that as agriculture and food are very significant.
“We pride ourselves in very fertile agricultural land, enough water bodies to drive that. But how much are we then exporting to this particular market and through this market into the wider Asia region and into Europe as well?” he said.
“Tourism and agri-investment, very critical again and we have seen an interest from a UAE point of view, from a regional point of view in terms of our tourism and hospitality space, particularly the agri-tourism part. Then the fashion and creative industries”.
Mr Makahamadze, however, emphasised that Zimbabwe must not export raw products but finished products that go on shop shelves.
“What was interesting was how our delegation from Dubai responded to the Revive drink, the dairy fruit mix. Some of us are so used to it to the extent that it’s just a drink. But if you then go to the Middle East, you are not going to find dairy food mixes on the shelves.
“So, each of the delegation members carried something. Now that speaks to the quality of our products. So, as we add value, as we beneficiate, we then move up the value chain. That means, again, an increase in terms of our intent.
“Now, what we are doing here is part of the solution. We show up, we get involved, and we have the conversations, again, which speaks to the approach,” said Mr Makahamadze. — @NyembeziMu
