malvernmugadzikwa
Michael Tome
Business Reporter
EXPORTING companies at the ZimTrade Annual Exporters Conference that ended recently resolved to strengthen commercialisation of indigenous resources as an anchor to export growth in 2024.
This is in line with the export diversification strategy that seeks to broaden the export product range from the current exports from agriculture and mining sectors.
Zimbabwe is endowed with abundant wild fruits and herbs, which can be found in almost every province of the country.
These products, if beneficiated and well-marketed, can create a competitive advantage and appeal to a niche market, potentially leading to increased exports.
As such, more investment is required for research and development of indigenous resources in order to realise the benefits of these natural endowments, thus more synergies required between universities and industry.
Delivering the conference resolutions, Mr Andrew Daka, representing exporting companies, said: “In 2024, we are going to be focusing on export growth. We are going to be talking to heritage-based commercialisation of our indigenous resources.
“We have so much, including masau and baobab. We need to commercialise these so that they become part of our anchor in terms of growing our exports in 2024.
“In doing all this, we should not forget to be certified. Diversification of a lot of our indigenous products requires certification and we need to do that. It is a common requirement to us,” said Mr Daka.
He encouraged companies to partner with institutions of higher learning to commercialise some of these ideas into formidable products for export, starting next year.
Also officiating at the conference, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Professor Amon Murwira exhorted local manufacturing firms and learning institutions to seriously consider adopting and implementing heritage-based education to have a competitive edge when exporting to regional and international markets.
According to Minister Murwira, this drive can effectively be inculcated through heritage-based education, which is being spearheaded through the Education 5.0 philosophy.
He said heritage-based education can foster an entrepreneurial spirit and innovative thinking among companies and learning institutions, leading to the development of exportable products or services.
“Every country has its own unique heritage, thus, heritage-based export of unique products is a sure way of being competitive on the export market. It is our source of competitive advantage.
“Heritage is power and dignity. Different countries were created to have different powers and those powers are the source of exchange,” said Minister Murwira.
“The time you realise that masau (ziziphus mauritiana) are fruits just like grapes, that matamba (monkey oranges) are fruits just like oranges, that day, you will be more empowered, because these grow naturally, with zero cultivation cost, just processing cost.”
Heritage-based education can inspire and empower manufacturing firms and students to explore and develop products or services that are unique to their local situations.
He said through heritage-based Education 5.0, which is the brainchild of President Mnangagwa, innovation hubs are now producing prototypes of innovative products that could excite export markets.
President Mnangagwa is on record saying, through the ongoing science, technology and innovation momentum in Zimbabwe, new export markets must be sought for the goods produced by innovation hubs.
Minister Murwira added that the Second Republic was striving to provide the necessary resources through networking platforms, to navigate the complexities of international trade, as part of advancing economic diplomacy to identify potential markets and facilitate business relationships.
ZimTrade chief executive officer Allan Majuru said global countries were witnessing a growing demand for Zimbabwe’s indigenous fruits and medicinal products, which are abundantly found in Zimbabwe.
“The International Trade Centre says the changing consumer preferences for natural health products such as wild fruits and natural herbs has presented a niche that exporters in many least developed countries are looking to develop for sustainable production and export trade,” said Mr Majuru.
Through the Education 5.0 drive, local universities are making strides in engaging in the production of products that are readily needed in the export markets.
Chinhoyi University of Technology has secured a deal to export watermelons to Dubai. The institution will start growing the crop on five hectares, with first exports expected by December.
Midlands State University, on the other hand, is expected to start exporting citrus products to Dubai next year, with the logistics already sorted out, while the Harare Institute of Technology has managed to reverse-engineer equipment to process baobab pulp for export.
Among other resolutions adopted at the annual conference was the need to mainstream environmental, social and governance tenets, strengthening clusters and hubs, and localising sector-specific branding.
Online Reporter