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Business Reporter
National trade development and promotion body, ZimTrade, on Friday held the Season 2 Finale of the Eagles Nest Youth Export Incubation Programme, which saw the final seven contestants being awarded shields and certificates.
The overall winner of the competition, which is sponsored by Ecobank, will be revealed when the programme is televised by as yet unannounced broadcaster and date.
The Eagles Nest Youth Export Incubation programme is designed to inculcate an export culture in young people and is seen as crucial in building the export capacities of youth-led businesses. Friday’s event, which was held at The Venue in Harare, started with Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry, accompanied by Zimtrade board chairman Clara Mlambo and chief executive Allan Majuru touring an open exhibition by some of the contestants.
Speaking soon after the tour, Minister Coventry described the exhibition as “amazing” and the youth as “talented”.
She commended ZimTrade for its efforts to formalise and help to give structure and ideas “to young people’s businesses that need to get to that next level”.
She said the thought process in the production of the products was “incredible”.
“The scientific research that’s been done in the market for their different products, really shows that our youth are trying to be as professional as they can. I think that will really drive Zimbabwe to the next level,” Minister Coventry said.
She said her ministry is also running a national programme across provinces with provincial ministers and Youth Connect.
The minister said the programme gave young people a platform to interface with business leaders and help them formalise their companies.
“We have trade fairs of trade shows where the youth come in and show us their programmes and projects and we try and partner them with different mentors as well as bring in the Empower Bank, and see if they can be helped financially.
“We basically try and create bigger and better platforms for integration, and I think it has been quite successful,” said Minister Coventry.
A total of 150 youth-led businesses took part in Season 2 of the programme.
Firms that made it to the season finale, include Rukanda Pride and Moreda Wear, which are into Leather and Leather Products as well as Zeengerz Chips, Thandie’s Village, Nyanga Craft Cider, Nezox Brands (all into the food processing business) as well as The Blessing Foundation (Therapy Services), Atelier Phiri (Clothing and Textiles), EthelArt Connect Pvt Ltd (Contemporary Art) and Indalo (Skin Care Manufacturing).
ZimTrade CEO Allan Majuru said the Eagle Nest programme was designed to inculcate an export culture in young people and has been crucial in building export capacities of youth-led businesses.
“We have already recorded positive milestones as some of the participants have taken part in international trade exhibitions and from these exposures, they have acquired supply deals,” Mr Majuru said.
He said the programme will also help in boosting the country’s exports.
“Indications are that with increased players in mainstream export business, Zimbabwe’s exports should continue growing above that targeted 10 percent growth as espoused in the National Export Strategy.
The National Export Strategy is meant to achieve competitiveness, value addition and export diversification in areas of comparative advantage.
Ecobank representative at the event, Dr Bunmi Bajomo, head of corporate banking, corporate and investment banking and chief operating officer, said her bank gives exporters a platform which has export trade experts and a presence in 33 African markets.
She said the products showcased by some of the youth will help leapfrog Africa to the next level.
“These are the products that can take us from the third world to first world,” Dr Bajomo said.
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