Zimbabwe sets trade push in motion with Uganda, Egypt business fora

ZIMBABWE will this month hold two strategically important business forums with Uganda and Egypt as the country intensifies efforts to expand the volume and value of its trade across the African continent.

South Africa remains Zimbabwe’s largest overall trading partner as of early 2026, largely because of high import volumes. However, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has overtaken South Africa as Zimbabwe’s biggest export destination, driven mainly by gold and mineral shipments.

Against this backdrop, the country has scheduled a business indaba with Uganda on 17 March and another with Egypt on 25 March in Harare.

National trade promotion agency ZimTrade organised the Zimbabwe-Uganda Business Forum in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade and the Embassy of the Republic of Uganda in Zimbabwe.

The indaba will include buyers from Uganda who are actively seeking opportunities with local exporters.
Trade between Zimbabwe and Uganda remains small but is steadily growing, centred around manufactured goods, agricultural products and pharmaceuticals. In its latest newsletter, ZimTrade emphasised that strategic partnerships with Ugandan firms could ease market entry challenges, assist with regulatory compliance and provide vital in-market intelligence.

“Such collaborations could enable Zimbabwean businesses to respond more effectively to regional demand while strengthening bilateral trade ties. The forthcoming Zimbabwe-Uganda Business Forum on March 17 is expected to bring together key institutions from both countries,” ZimTrade said.

Key participants from Uganda will include the Uganda Investment Authority, Uganda Private Sector Foundation, Uganda Free Zones and Export Promotions Authority, Uganda Airlines and the Uganda Tourism Board. Zimbabwe’s delegation will feature the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (Zida) and the Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA).

ZimTrade said the engagements — combining policy dialogue, investment promotion and business-to-business sessions — are expected to unlock trade flows, new investment prospects and long-term commercial partnerships.

“For Zimbabwean companies, the platform offers an entry point into a growing Eastern African economy and a chance to consolidate their presence across Eastern and Southern Africa under existing continental trade frameworks. Uganda’s import demand presents a ready market for Zimbabwean producers seeking to expand their regional footprint.

“While overall trade between the two countries has remained relatively modest over the past five years, opportunities lie in the range of goods Uganda continues to source from within the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (Comesa). A significant share of Uganda’s imports is supplied by fellow Comesa member states such as Kenya, Egypt, Eswatini and Zambia,” ZimTrade said.

Key imports include iron and steel, mineral fuels and precious stones — highlighting how regional value chains and preferential tariffs shape sourcing patterns. As a Comesa member, Zimbabwe is well-positioned to plug into these supply chains, take advantage of reduced tariffs, broaden export markets and stimulate domestic industrial growth.
ZimTrade also pointed to Uganda’s business-friendly environment, noting its two annual agricultural harvests, liberal foreign exchange regime and growing population, which is fuelling demand for goods and services.

“There are also prospects for in-market production, particularly in agro-processing and manufacturing, with the Uganda Investment Authority offering facilitation and investor support services.”

Meanwhile, preparations for the Zimbabwe-Egypt Business Forum are proceeding as African states intensify efforts to increase intra-continental trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). The forum builds on momentum from the 2023 Intra-Africa Trade Fair held in Cairo, where Zimbabwean firms secured export orders and investment commitments.

“The forum is being jointly organised by ZimTrade, Zida and the Embassy of Egypt in Zimbabwe. The Egyptian delegation will be led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emigration and Egyptian Expatriates, Dr Badr Abdelatty and will include companies drawn from the energy, mining, infrastructure, construction, agriculture, manufacturing and pharmaceutical sectors.”

Deliberations will focus on trade and investment prospects under Comesa and AfCFTA, with the forum designed to move beyond dialogue into practical, bankable outcomes. ZimTrade said the programme will include technical presentations and sector specific engagements aimed at strengthening commercial partnerships.

“Egypt’s geographic position provides access to North Africa, the Middle East and Europe, making it a strategic entry point for Zimbabwean exporters seeking to expand beyond traditional markets.

“With a population of about 119 million and a gross domestic product estimated at US$395 billion in 2025, Egypt remains one of Africa’s largest markets.”

Zimbabwe’s exports to Egypt peaked at US$55,8 million in 2020, mainly driven by tobacco, before falling sharply to US$421 000 in 2023 and rebounding to US$7 million in 2024. Egyptian exports to Zimbabwe rose from US$16 million in 2020 to US$39,7 million in 2024, dominated by cereals, plastics and pharmaceutical products.

“There is scope for Zimbabwe to expand its export basket into the Egyptian market. In horticulture, local producers are scaling up output of citrus, avocados and tea as part of a broader strategy to increase horticultural exports by 2030,” ZimTrade said.

It added that Egypt’s demand for sesame seeds offers another opening for Zimbabwean farmers, especially as supply chain disruptions in Sudan have created space for alternative suppliers.

In mining and energy, Zimbabwe’s lithium reserves present opportunities for value chain partnerships — particularly in processing and renewable energy — where Egyptian firms have established technical expertise.