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The Sunday Mail, 24 February 1963
IN the midst of a campaign to persuade people in the Federation to “Buy Home Products”, comes news of the success of local radio firms on the export market.
About 60 percent of the radios manufactured in Bulawayo, worth about 750 Pounds, were exported last year, mainly to South Africa.
A spokesman for Premier Electric (Pvt) Ltd, said here this week their exports last year totalled about 500 000 pounds, and their local market was a little less. About three-quarters of the exports went to the Republic and the rest to other parts of Africa.
He said that among products which went out of the Federation were transistor radios, transistor radiograms and table radiograms. And a spokesman for Supersonic Radio Manufacturing Co (Pvt) Ltd, said that about 60 percent of his firm’s products were exported.
The total value of radios exported from the Federation in 1962 was approximately 750 000 pounds.
This was an increase of nearly 30 per cent, over the previous year, and the biggest increase of exports for any locally manufactured product.
He said that his firm’s export market was mainly in South Africa, but selected products, which included car radios, were sent to the West Indies, the Middle East, the Pacific Islands and other foreign countries.
Mr W. C. Dobson, managing director of Radio Development of Rhodesia (Pvt) Ltd, said that his firm exported about 30 percent of its products.
Lessons for today
As long as industry and commerce produce high quality goods and services, they will attract the export market, but competitively as well.
The recently launched National Development Strategy 1 will ensure that the industrial sector does not only produce for the local market, but that they become major players on the export market.
An export oriented business, providing highly competitive goods and services has the potential to generate the much needed foreign currency through exports, and in turn, this will generate employment opportunities.
As the wealth band expands, it means a reduction in poverty.
This also means an economic boom and the realisation of Vision 2030.
The Buy Zimbabwe Campaign has played a major role in ensuring that people appreciate local brands. This should lower the import bill, and save foreign currency.
President Mnangagwa last Friday acknowledged the increase of locally manufactured goods in supermarkets, which is due to Government policies. For example, the 2021 budget is supporting the Buy Zimbabwe Campaign.
Companies should be capacitated with state of the art equipment so that they produce goods that can compete on the regional and international market.
Online Reporter