adminEuropean Communities.
It is the dream of every producer of primary and secondary products to access a big market and be guaranteed that all the orders would be absorbed without hitches.
However, in the event of the recall of an order for some, it may spell doom for the entire concern, as the damages may exceed the earnings realised. It is therefore essential to ensure that one gets it correct first before engaging any market.
This reflection is a bird’s eye view of the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Brussels and limits itself to experiences in the eurozone. It poses some questions on how Zimbabwean producers and intermediary organisations can exploit the huge market. Some of the questions addressed are: Why bring Zimra into the value chain debate? Why exporters should be attracted to the euro market? What exporters and producers should know about the export markets? Why call for more collaboration of intermediary organisations in the value chain?
Why bring Zimra into the value chain debate?
The shift taking place in the EU relationship with ACP countries is bringing in new actors to contribute to the value-chain debate, normally the preserve of producers, the agro-industry and other industrial processers. The World Customs Organisation, realising the challenges that the ACP countries are facing in their efforts to meet the new conditions, has availed resources for the capacity building of ACP exporters and their national customs organisations. Zimbabwe is currently representing our region on the WCO Council. ZimBrussels applauds Zimra for working closely with the WCO and would like to urge it to strengthen its pivotal role in helping producers understand the conditions of the market, be it domestic or external.
ZimBrussels sees Zimra’s role extending not only to that of informing Zimbabwe’s prospective exporters on what is expected of them at home, but also on what the receiving country or the EU customs regulations demand. These include the regular updates and policy adjustments.
Synergy – a sine qua non for the resurgent export economy to court the lucrative EU market
Suffice to note that while there are internationally agreed standards, the eurozone has from time to time instituted and tightened its own conditions over and above the agreed ones. To address this issue in Zimbabwe the ministries of Agriculture, Mechanisation and Irrigation Development, Industry and Commerce and Regional Integration and International Co-operation, ZimTrade, the Public Laboratory, Standards Association, producers’ associations, national research and development institutions, other line ministries and indeed Zimbabwe’s embassies in Europe, should work hand in glove with Zimra – the gatekeeper.
Zimra protects the domestic market from dumping and manages the import-export gate while creating opportunities for the local industry. Increasingly, accountability is zeroing in on all the points in the food chain, the producers included. Whereas in the past the producers could have taken a back seat, today the tables have turned.
This year alone, ZimBrussels regrets to recall that some consignments of Zimbabwean animal products, tilapia and horticulture have been blocked or return for compliance reasons. The Zimbabwe Mission envisages more challenges of this nature, particularly in cases where the produce is repackaged elsewhere, for instance in South Africa, without fully reflecting the information on the RoO and the cumulation data. This demonstrates the sensitivity of the export markets.
Why should exporters be attracted to the euro market?
Europe offers a lucrative market of 300 million high consumers. Europe’s demand for raw materials is expanding, and African producers by virtue of endowment and geographical advantage offer the best solution and Europe has often admitted this fact during its consultations with African delegates in Brussels.
l Article submitted by Zimra’s Legal and Corporate Services Division. Their contact details are as follows: Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, Legal and Corporate Services Division, 6th Floor, ZB Centre, Cnr First S/Kwame Nkrumah Ave, P O Box 4360, Harare. Tel: 04 – 775332/751624/781345, Fax: 04 – 774087, e-mail:[email protected], website: www.zimra.co.zw
“Europe imports a lot of raw materials and is increasingly looking out for a long-term supply of raw produce both for its industry and for its own consumption;
“Without prejudice to Africa’s value addition strategies, Africa offers the greatest promise, since most of our resources are still untapped;
“Europe, by virtue of our traditional relations, has done a lot of business with Africa for a long time. True, there is merit in diversifying markets, but at the sometime it is good to consolidate existing ones while spreading out;
“Europe is deliberately courting us for a long-term partnership through the current negotiations for an Economic Partnership Agreement;
“The needs of the EU market produce are already known to us e.g. minerals, beef, sugar, flowers and horticultural produce, coffee, tea, tobacco, cotton, skins and hides to name a few; and
“The decades of trade have created a database that enhances business endeavour to consolidate our market-share and even expand where new opportunities emerge.
Article submitted by ZIMRA’s Legal and Corporate Services Division. Their contact details are as follows:
Zimbabwe Revenue Authority
Legal and Corporate Services Division
6th Floor, ZB Centre
Cnr First Street/Kwame Nkrumah Avenue
P O Box 4360
Harare
Tel: 04 – Tel: 04 – 775332/751624/781345
Fax: 04 – 774087
E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.zimra.co.zw
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