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The Rhodesia Herald, August 24, 1949
INCREASED trade between the Rhodesias and the Netherlands is a hoped-for result of the appointment in Bulawayo of Mr CAF van Overstraten Dootjes as Netherlands commercial information officer.
For the past four years, Mr Van Overstraten Dootjes has been commercial attaché for the Netherlands in Pretoria.
In an interview today, he said his main work would be to promote trade between the two countries and put commercial men in touch with one another.
His office would act as a central collection and dissemination point but, being a government office, would not itself engage in trade or commerce.
Industrial and commercial men wishing to export to or import from Holland can contact him, and he will put them in touch with Dutch firms of good standing.
Mr Van Overstraten Dootjes said that at present, there was a certain amount of bilateral trading between the Netherlands and the Rhodesias.
Commodities which Holland might export and in some cases is exporting are blankets, fertiliser, condensed milk, liquor and cigars.
Some of the things which Holland might require from Rhodesia are base minerals like chrome, pig iron, hides and skins.
The Netherlands government had received a number of inquiries from Rhodesian businessmen about the prospects of increased trade and similar inquiries had been received from businessmen in Holland about the markets in Rhodesia.
Mr van Overstraten Dootjes who arrived in Bulawayo on Monday, has already met Mr Stanley Cooke, president of the Federated Chambers of Industries in the colony and will meet other businessmen as soon as possible.
He will soon be visiting Salisbury for talks with Government officials and he hopes to see Mr RF Halsted, Minister of Trade and Industrial Development.
He expects to travel considerably throughout both Rhodesias during the next three or four months, meeting businessmen in all the towns before establishing himself in Bulawayo. At present he is searching for a suitable office in the city.
LESSONS FOR TODAY
Trade diversification of exports is important as it allows countries to build resilience to movements in demand, due to economic downturns from importing countries, and also price dips.
Trade facilitation is key to reducing non-tariff trade costs, and is important for ensuring inclusive benefits since landlocked countries and small, informal, and female traders are usually more burdened by inadequate trade facilitation
The on-going negotiations between Zimbabwe and the European Union will also see the facilitation of not only political but economic ties as well, which could translate to high volumes of trade.
Africa took a giant stride along the path of increased economic co-operation, with the launch of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in March 2018. The move was widely hailed as a major milestone towards the long-standing goal of creating a unified continental market.
Investing in physical connectivity, including rail, road and telecommunications infrastructure — will further contribute to growth in intra-African trade.
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