Online Reporter
Business Reporter
Economic cooperation between Zimbabwe and Zambia comes under the spotlight when businesses from the two countries, policymakers, investors and key stakeholders engage during a bi-national business forum set for tomorrow in Harare.
The business forum, which will be held on the sidelines of the Zimbabwe–Zambia Bi-National Commission (BNC), will bring together policy makers, business leaders and investors to discuss ways of expanding trade, promoting investment and strengthening industrial cooperation between the two neighbouring economies.
Jointly organised by the national trade development and promotion agency, ZimTrade, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA), under the guidance of the ministries responsible for trade and industry, discussions will also focus on opportunities in public and private sectors.
It will focus on identifying opportunities for joint ventures, improving market access, and building regional value chains that enhance productivity and competitiveness.
ZimTrade chief executive officer Mr Allan Majuru said the forum provided an opportunity for both countries to consolidate their economic partnership and explore new areas of collaboration.
“The forum is an opportunity to identify practical ways of improving trade and investment flows.
“Our objective is to ensure that enterprises from both countries can collaborate in areas that promote value addition, increase investment flows and trade,” he said.
Mr Majuru said he will focus on productive sectors that drive both economies, including agriculture and agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, renewable energy and tourism.
“Zimbabwe and Zambia share similar economic priorities centred on industrialisation and export diversification and we want to make sure our businesses can develop regional value chains that enhance capacity utilisation and create shared growth.”
The forum will feature business-to-business meetings and sectoral discussions designed to generate concrete business leads and promote partnerships in supply, distribution and technology transfer.
The Zimbabwe-Zambia Business Forum aligns with the Government’s efforts to deepen regional integration and increase private sector participation in driving economic transformation.
Apart from creating a platform for businesses to engage, the forum is also expected to address trade facilitation, logistics, and financing mechanisms to make cross-border business more efficient.
The timing of the forum coincides with growing trade activity between the two countries.
Figures from Trade Map show that Zimbabwe’s exports to Zambia increased from US$52,56 million in 2019 to US$144,76 million in 2024, representing a 175 percent rise.
During the same time, imports from Zambia grew from US$112,75 million to US$315,40 million, an increase of 180 percent.
The main traded goods include agricultural produce, processed foods, metals, machinery and industrial inputs.
Mr Majuru said such trade growth demonstrated the value of continued engagement between the two economies.
“The increase in trade volumes shows that there is scope to expand cooperation further, and regular engagement between our business communities helps to identify opportunities, address challenges and promote mutually beneficial outcomes.”
The forum will also discuss investment opportunities across sectors as both countries work towards sustainable industrialisation.
In addition, tourism cooperation will be strengthened under the “One Destination, Two Nations” initiative, which promotes Zimbabwe and Zambia as a single tourism destination, leveraging shared attractions such as Victoria Falls.
Tourism collaboration presents an opportunity for the two countries to increase arrivals and diversify tourism products.
The business forum complements the work of the Zimbabwe-Zambia Bi-National Commission, which replaces the Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation.
The BNC elevates bilateral relations to the Head-of-State level, with agreements expected in trade facilitation, transport, investment promotion, energy cooperation and environmental management.
The Forum’s private sector-led approach ensures that the discussions at the Government level are supported by practical business engagements.
