Kudzanai Sharara in SHANGHAI, China
ZIMBABWE has stepped up efforts to attract Chinese investment into agriculture, mining, manufacturing and tourism, as the Government moves to deepen economic ties with Beijing and accelerate the country’s industrialisation agenda.
The drive comes as bilateral trade between Zimbabwe and China has surpassed US$5 billion in the first nine months of 2026, providing fresh impetus for stronger commercial partnerships and increased investment flows between the two countries.
The call for greater investment was made at the Zimbabwe Business Forum held in Shanghai, China, on Friday on the sidelines of the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE).
Speaking at the forum, Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution for Midlands Province Owen Ncube said bilateral trade between Zimbabwe and China had grown from an average of US$1,9 billion in 2021 to US$4,4 billion in 2025. Bilateral trade between Zimbabwe and China has since surged by 51,6 percent to reach US$5,01 billion in the first nine months of 2026 alone, surpassing the total volume recorded for the entire previous year.
Minister Ncube said the growth reflected strengthening economic relations between the two countries and presented opportunities for further cooperation, particularly in value addition, beneficiation and industrial development.
He said Zimbabwe was seeking to move away from exporting raw materials towards developing domestic processing and manufacturing capacity to create employment and retain more value within the economy.
“As the world accelerates towards green energy, Zimbabwe stands as a pivotal player with vast reserves of lithium, platinum, gold and nickel,” he said.
“In the past, we exported our raw materials. But now we want to beneficiate them in our own country so that we can create employment for our youth.” Minister Ncube invited Chinese companies and other international investors to explore joint ventures in industrial park development, renewable energy, digital technology and mineral beneficiation.
He said Zimbabwe’s investment proposition was also anchored on its agricultural potential, highlighting opportunities in tobacco, blueberries, citrus, tea, peas, macadamia nuts and fresh produce. On tourism, Minister Ncube identified Victoria Falls and the country’s wildlife resources as key attractions capable of supporting further investment in the sector.
He said Zimbabwe offered an investment environment supported by investor protection laws, Special Economic Zones, incentives and a skilled workforce.
Minister Ncube added that the country’s economic diplomacy agenda was guided by the principle of being a friend to all and an enemy to none, with the private sector expected to play a central role in achieving the ambition of attaining upper-middle-income economy status by 2030.
Earlier, chief director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Mrs Mavis Faranisi, said China’s zero-tariff initiative for African countries was creating opportunities for Zimbabwean exporters to access the Chinese market and strengthen bilateral economic relations. She said the initiative would help establish a sustainable foundation for trade and investment cooperation between the two countries, calling for stronger collaboration between Zimbabwean and Chinese businesses.
That focus on expanding trade through value addition was reinforced by ZimTrade manager for export promotion, Mrs Vuyiswa Mafu, who said Zimbabwe needed to strengthen its position in international markets by expanding exports of manufactured and processed products.
Mrs Mafu highlighted the country’s growing export capabilities across footwear, clothing and textiles, building and construction, and agriculture, but said the current export base remained heavily concentrated in primary commodities.
Zimbabwe’s 2025 export composition shows minerals and alloys accounted for 79 percent of exports, while unmanufactured tobacco contributed 14 percent.
Together, the two categories accounted for 93 percent of the country’s exports.
The contrast was particularly evident in tobacco, where unmanufactured tobacco accounted for 14 percent of exports, compared with just 1 percent for manufactured tobacco.
Mrs Mafu said footwear demonstrated the potential of Zimbabwean manufacturers to penetrate international markets, while the clothing and textiles sector was already exporting men’s suits, jackets and trousers, women’s clothing, tracksuits, swimwear and materials used in tobacco packaging.
In building and construction, she identified steel products from Zimbabwe’s steel plant as a significant export opportunity, while in agriculture she highlighted oilseeds and other products that could benefit from increased processing.
She said expanding the range of finished and value-added products would help diversify export earnings, improve competitiveness and strengthen Zimbabwe’s position in international markets. Zimbabwe’s tobacco exports to China illustrate the opportunities emerging from improved market access.
Tobacco exports reached US$860 million in the January to September 2026 period, up 9,3 percent from US$786 million recorded during the same period last year.
Zimbabwean blueberries also entered the Chinese market for the first time in July this year, marking another milestone in efforts to diversify agricultural exports.
The opportunities are increasingly attracting interest from local companies participating in the CIIE, with some seeking to establish new commercial relationships with Chinese buyers and manufacturers.
Among the exhibitors is KAZA Natural Oils, a Harare-based natural oils producer seeking partnerships with Chinese cosmetic manufacturers, distributors and importers.
Company representative, Ms Nyarai Kurebgaseka, said the expo presented an opportunity to expand the company’s existing links with the Chinese market and explore new business relationships.
“Our presence here in China is to explore markets in the Chinese industries for cosmetic manufacturers, for distributors, for anybody who might be interested in importing our products into China,” she said.
Ms Kurebgaseka said the company was encouraged by its previous experiences at international trade exhibitions facilitated by ZimTrade. “Thanks to ZimTrade, we’ve been invited to participate here. So we were obviously very excited about the opportunity and we are hoping to get big results,” she said.
She added that the company had achieved positive results at other exhibitions where it participated under the ZimTrade umbrella.
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“Whenever they do call us, we jump at the opportunity because it’s always nice and beautiful to be represented under an umbrella like this and with an organisation like ZimTrade with such a history of success. So this is why we are here,” she said.
The horticulture sector is also looking to capitalise on the opportunities presented by the Chinese market, with Beitbridge-based Marema Citrus Estate targeting potential buyers for its 2027 export season.
Marketing manager, Ms Confidence Moyo, said the company was showcasing its citrus produce at the expo as it sought to establish commercial relationships with Chinese importers.
“We produce Valencia oranges, three varieties of Valencia and also lemons. Those are the citrus fruits that we produce for export and we are here at the China International Import Expo,” she said.
Ms Moyo said the company was adopting a phased approach to entering the Chinese market, with its immediate objective being to secure buyers for the next production season.
“We are expecting to meet up with potential buyers for our 2027 season. 2026 was actually our first export year. It was quite complex. But we decided to start marketing this year for 2027,” she said.
Marema manages 875 hectares under citrus production, but has not yet exported to China.
Ms Moyo said the company’s GlobalG.A.P. certification, an internationally recognised standard for good agricultural practices, would help position it to meet the quality and phytosanitary requirements of the Chinese market.
China remains an attractive destination for Zimbabwean horticultural producers, given its enormous consumer market and growing demand for imported agricultural products.
The two countries signed a citrus trade protocol in 2022, providing for an initial annual export quota of 50 000 tonnes. Zimbabwean citrus exports to China officially began in October 2023.
Further opportunities emerged on May 1 this year when China extended zero-tariff treatment to products from 53 African countries, including Zimbabwe, removing an important cost barrier for qualifying exporters.
Zimbabwe’s overall citrus exports to all markets reached 68 000 tonnes in the first nine months of 2025, representing a 10 percent year-on-year increase.
The country earned approximately US$12 million from horticultural exports to China as market-access protocols for citrus, avocados and blueberries were finalised.
ZimTrade chief executive officer, Mr Allan Majuru, said the organisation’s participation at CIIE was aimed at helping local companies diversify exports beyond traditional commodities such as tobacco and minerals.
“China’s expanded zero-tariff market access presents opportunities to improve the competitiveness of qualifying Zimbabwean products,” Mr Majuru said.
“Our participation seeks to translate these opportunities into increased exports, industrial production and foreign currency generation.”
The participation of companies such as KAZA Natural Oils and Marema Citrus Estate highlights the potential for Zimbabwean businesses to turn improved diplomatic and trade relations into concrete commercial opportunities.
For Zimbabwe, the challenge now is to ensure that the rapid growth in bilateral trade is matched by increased investment, domestic processing and a more diversified export base.
With bilateral trade already above US$5 billion, the Government and the private sector are seeking to ensure that the next phase of the relationship delivers not just higher trade volumes, but also greater industrial capacity, employment creation and value retention within the domestic economy.
