Online Reporter
Zimpapers Business Hub
INTERNATIONAL buyers participating in the ZimTrade Export Week in Bulawayo have endorsed the quality of Zimbabwean products and services and said local businesses have the potential to compete at a global level.
This came out from the Buyers’ Seminar, part of the Zimbabwe Export Week, October 13 to 17, organised by the national trade promotion and development body ZimTrade in partnership with the African Export and Import Bank (Afreximbank) to promote Zimbabwe’s exports.
ZimTrade’s Export Week, an annual event, is informed by Zimbabwe’s export growth plan, as outlined in the National Export Strategy (NES), which aims to increase export earnings by 10 percent annually through market diversification, value addition, and capacity building.
The Buyers’ Seminar brought together about 15 buyers from different countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Africa, Senegal, France, Zambia, Mozambique, Kenya and Egypt, amongst other countries.
Now in its second year, the event provides a platform for meaningful engagement between Zimbabwean exporters, international buyers, and policymakers.
Running under the theme “Rooted Locally, Growing Globally”, this speaks to the growing imperative for Zimbabwean businesses to fully exploit local resources and capabilities while developing competitiveness in international markets.
During their introduction, the international buyers said they were impressed by the quality of goods from Zimbabwe, adding that they also came to explore the services sector, noting the country has expertise in many sectors.
The buyers represented a diverse range of sectors, spanning agriculture, agro-processing, mining, leather, cotton and clothing, among others.
Mr Valer Tshiyombo from Angola said the Zimbabwean goods had a long shelf life, which made them unique in the market.
The buyers also noted the local products’ standout nature of being organic, with international markets increasingly preferring healthy eating and taking into consideration production processes that are environmentally friendly.
Another buyer, Mr Fiston Lufuluabo from DRC, said Zimbabwe has the expertise required by their country in the mining sector.
Mr Lufuluabo said they were looking forward to establishing vocational training centers, which he said would need Zimbabwean expertise to help train youth on different mining skills.
“We are blessed to have Zimbabwe in our continent, the country has expertise and we are here to look for the technical know-how, which can be rendered to the DRC mining sector,” said Mr Lufuluabo. “Zimbabwe has experience in underground mining, which is the only option left for mineral extraction as we are moving from surface mining.”
Other buyers also said they preferred Zimbabwean products and services due to the producers’ innovativeness. “Ideally, what we are looking for in Zimbabwe it’s something we know that you have, innovation, technology, and quality,” said Anesu Gumbie from Zambia.
Ms Betty Thaba from South Africa also applauded Zimbabwean businesses for their open-door policy, saying that they are willing to collaborate, partner and trade with others.
The seminar also had a business-to-business meeting between buyers and local suppliers.
ZimTrade chief executive officer Mr Allan Majuru said the whole idea of inviting international buyers was to solidify markets where Zimbabwean products are present, such as Zambia and South Africa.
He said for Zimbabwe to maintain a consistent presence in African markets, Zimtrade partnered with Afreximbank, with a memorandum of understanding signed to jointly promote local products.
The MoU allows Zimbabwean buyers and suppliers to meet verified buyers and sellers through Afreximbank’s digital platforms.
“That alone creates trust, and it’s easy for us to do due diligence for our exporters so that they can be onboarded on that platform to meet buyers from different countries,” said Mr Majuru.
Mr Majuru said the responses from the international buyers would help them match the quality of goods and services desired in the respective export markets.
“In terms of services, there is no better place to be but Zimbabwe, that alone sends a good message so what we are now doing going forward is to make deliberate efforts to make sure that as a country we are promoting the export of services,” he said.
