adminNgoni Dapira Business Correspondent
TRADE between Zimbabwe and Mozambique is expected to increase with plans underway to organise inter-provincial trade shows between Manica Province and Manicaland.
Mozambican Governor for Manica Province, Cde Alberto Modhlane said this last week Friday while officially opening the 2015 Manicaland Agricultural Show as guest of honour.
Cde Modhlane came with a 16-member delegation to explore ways of tapping into business opportunities in Manicaland. The delegation which comprised of heads of departments from various Government ministries is looking towards improving trade relations in different sectors of the economy including construction, mining, agriculture, manufacturing, tourism and Information Technology.
The Manica Province Governor said the global economic environment required African nations to venture into bilateral partnerships that boost trade. He said he was eager on establishing direct trade between the two countries hence the importance of the inter-provincial trade shows.
He added that his country was keen on agriculture and creating agro-processing joint ventures with local companies, stressing Zimbabwean companies had more experience in agro-processing, which the Mozambican companies were eager to tap into.
“I really challenge the Zimbabwean Government to take up this seriously as we are serious as Manica Province. We would like to partner in livestock farming and other key economic sectors to further unite our two countries,” said Cde Modhlane.
The Minister of State for Manicaland Affairs, Cde Mandi Chimene said Zimbabwe should engage its regional counterparts in developing local industry. She said the cordial relations that have now been cemented by Manicaland and the neighbouring Manica Province were a good stepping stone to further strengthen regional integration in the Southern African Development Community.
Cde Chimene also said that it was now time to focus on food security and increase production to retain the countries former breadbasket status.
“This function (Manicaland Agricultural Show) is for both white and black farmers. We might have had our differences in the past but as we focus on food security to evade hunger, we now need to work together,” said the Resident Minister.
Despite having cordial relations and being signatories to the SADC Trade Protocol, trade between Zimbabwe and Mozambique has remained low over the years.
Trade statistics in 2012 show that intra-Africa trade only constituted 10-percent of overall trade in 2012, as trade is mostly skewed in favour of more economically developed countries that buy raw materials and export manufactured products.
Cde Modhlane called for a Preferential Trade Agreement between Zimbabwe and Mozambique that will provide for the exclusion of customs duty for locally manufactured goods in both countries.
Online Reporter