Indian market offers immense opportunities, says CBTAZ

trade to adapting production systems originating from that country.
This conclusion was made by the Cross-Border Association of Zimbabwe following a week-long fact-finding mission to the Asian country.

Speaking after the visit, Cross- Border Traders Association of Zimbabwe president Mr Killer Zivhu said the trip had been worthwhile, adding that the Indian market was a relatively new market for cross-border traders and this country could benefit from it to turnaround the economy.

“There are so many business opportunities in India. People can actually graduate from being mere traders to producers. One of the advantages is that the market is full of genuine products as opposed some fake goods you get from other countries if you do not do your research well,” said Mr Zivhu.

He said Zimbabweans had “oversubscribed” some markets hence the need to explore those that had remained untapped.
“The Indian people are very warm and accommodative and we believe there is great business sense in doing business with them,” said Mr Zivhu.
The CBTAZ has of late embarked on missions to various countries as part of efforts to expand markets from which members can import from or export to.

The association is planning to go to Brazil, South Sudan and other such markets that exude immense potential but have not been penetrated that much.
So far groups of cross-border traders have been going on business missions to China, Dubai, Tanzania and countries in the region.

This sector of the economy has helped sustain families, particularly during the 2007-2008 era when the country was facing food shortages and companies were shutting down or scaling down operations, leaving thousands of people stranded.

The cross-border trade, which has been in existence for many decades, has increasingly become a source of income for many families and communities, contributing significantly to the Gross Domestic Product, although actual figures are not available.
Many Zimbabwean families have anchored their growth and wealth accumulation on the trade.
Many have managed to build houses, educate their children and start other income-generating businesses with proceeds from cross-border trade.