Online Reporter
Sikhulekelani Moyo
Zimpapers Business Hub
ZIMBABWEAN and Mozambican businesses have the opportunity to explore new and expand existing partnerships when they meet at the Mozambique–Zimbabwe Business Forum scheduled for Maputo on November 22.
The forum, jointly organised by ZimTrade, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and Mozambique’s Agência para a Promoção de Investimento e Exportações (APIEX), is expected to deepen cooperation in trade, investment, and tourism while advancing the Second Republic’s economic diplomacy drive.
In a statement, ZimTrade said the forum would be co-hosted with the CEO-Africa Roundtable, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), and the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC).
ZimTrade chief executive officer, Mr Allan Majuru, said the Maputo forum would give the private sector a platform to establish practical partnerships and engage directly with potential business partners in Mozambique.
“We see this forum as an opportunity to open new markets for our exporters while providing a structured avenue for investors from both countries to collaborate on manufacturing, logistics, and value-added production.
“We expect that companies will walk away with concrete business leads and agreements that strengthen bilateral trade and investment flows, “ Mr Majuru, adding that the meeting directly supports the Government’s foreign policy thrust.
“The Second Republic has emphasised that foreign engagements must deliver measurable economic outcomes.”
He added that the forum supports that priority by connecting Zimbabwean businesses to regional value chains and promoting collaborative ventures with Mozambican counterparts.
Since Zimbabwe’s independence in 1980, political, economic, and cultural relations with Mozambique have been steady, and President Mnangagwa has called for greater cooperation to strengthen economic ties.
Mr Majuru also said the private sector’s response showed growing confidence in regional economic cooperation.
“We are neighbours with shared economic interests. When we collaborate on trade, logistics, tourism, and industrial development, both economies grow, and this Forum is a step toward building a more coordinated and productive partnership,” he said.
ZimTrade said both countries stand to benefit from expanded opportunities in agriculture, agro-processing, mining, manufacturing, energy, infrastructure, and tourism, as firms explore partnerships that support production, trade, and investment.
Joint tourism packages linking Zimbabwe’s destinations with Mozambique’s coastline are expected to boost arrivals, while improved value-chain development, logistics, port efficiency, irrigation, and renewable energy projects will strengthen industrialisation and export growth for both economies.
Tourism players are expected to use the forum to explore collaborative marketing initiatives and integrated travel routes.
“Tourism products from the two countries complement each other, and combined packages have the potential to increase the region’s appeal to long-haul visitors,” said the trade development and promotion body.
“The creative industries will also explore partnerships in film production, cultural exhibitions, festivals, and destination promotion.
“These sectors are increasingly recognised as contributors to economic diversification, employment creation and regional branding. Business-to-business meetings will be central to the forum and are expected to lay the groundwork for follow-up missions, technical committees, and investment discussions.”
The meeting comes as Southern Africa is strengthening its participation in regional value chains under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Zimbabwe and Mozambique are seen as strategic partners in this process, given their geographic proximity and complementary economic structures. Increased collaboration is expected to enhance competitiveness, broaden exports, and support industrial development in both economies.
The forum’s format, which includes sector briefings, policy exchanges and business-to business sessions, has been arranged to allow companies to identify partners and negotiate opportunities directly. This is expected to result in the signing of distribution agreements, joint ventures, technology-sharing arrangements, and supply contracts.
The engagement comes as both countries intensify efforts to increase industrial capacity and diversify exports.
Mozambican ports remain critical to Zimbabwe’s external trade, and improved coordination on customs, logistics, and transit procedures is expected to reduce export costs and strengthen competitiveness.
The forum also aligns with the Government’s broader economic diplomacy agenda, which seeks to reposition Zimbabwe as an active participant in regional and international markets.
Under the Second Republic, foreign policy has emphasised practical economic cooperation, market expansion, re-engagement, and attracting investment.
