Online Reporter
The Herald, 13 June 1985
MOVES to step up Zimbabwe’s exports of fruit, vegetables and flowers to Europe are gaining momentum after last month’s highly successful seminar in Harare on the pros and cons of these exports.
The Commercial Farmers’ Union, which organised the seminar, reports that plans are underway to negotiate additional freight capacity at competitive rates to meet their expected transport needs. The CFU is also liaising with the Ministry of Trade and Commerce about Zimbabwe’s participation in the renowned Anuga world food trade fair in Cologne, West Germany, in October. This will be the first time that Zimbabwe will exhibit at the fair, which is held every two years and has become a major event in the calendar of the world food trade.
Zimbabwe’s participation at the fair is being funded by the EEC and the West German agency for technical cooperation, GTZ is providing an advisory service to both the Ministry of Trade and Commerce and potential exporters on how to make the most of their participation.
It is expected that the Zimbabwean delegation will consist of several current exporters, farmers, representatives of the local packaging industry and ministry officials. The West German technical assistance programme for exporters got underway last week when Mr Hans Conraths, a marketing consultant for GTZ, visited Zimbabwe to advise the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, growers and exporters on packaging, transport and export details such as tariffs and mark-ups needed for successful participation at the fair.
Lessons for today:
Since 1985, Zimbabwe’s export market has undergone significant changes. Initially, Zimbabwe’s exports were heavily reliant on agricultural products like tobacco, cotton, and horticultural products. Over time, the country diversified its export portfolio to include minerals such as gold, platinum, and diamonds.
The implementation of the Economic Structural Adjustment Programme (ESAP) in the early 1990s aimed to liberalise the economy and promote exports. While the programme had mixed results, it marked a shift towards a more market-oriented economy
Zimbabwe has increased its participation in regional and global trade agreements, such as the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
