Chronicle Editor
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
TRADE promotion and development agency, ZimTrade, has facilitated the participation of eight small to medium enterprises at the ongoing Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) as part of efforts to expose them to the global market and boost their export readiness.
Through its ‘Next She Exporter’ programme targeting women-led businesses and the ‘Eagle’s Nest Incubator’ programme targeting youth-led businesses, ZimTrade has assisted many SMEs in recent years with marketing, branding and packaging, which has improved their brand visibility in both local and regional markets.
To improve the companies’ marketing experience, ZimTrade has facilitated eight women and youth-led companies to exhibit at this year’s ZITF.These companies are drawn from leather, clothing, ceramics, essential oils, beauty products and food and beverages.
In an interview with some of the exhibitors under the ZimTrade banner yesterday, SMEs players expressed gratitude for the opportunity to showcase at the platform saying this would grow their businesses.
One of the companies, Rukanda Pride, which is into the leather value chain said they have been in business since 2018 and things were not well due to lack of marketing expertise and shortage of capital.
Ms Ashley Masoka from Rukanda said after their partnership with ZimTrade, they have managed to achieve a lot as a business.
“ZimTrade has helped us on how to run a business and how to sell and market our products. So, by exhibiting at this year’s trade fair, we expect to improve our market base and export our products, maybe by getting distributors from other countries,” she said.
“We are targeting to grow our brand and open new shops in other countries.”Ms Masoka said they have been exhibiting under the ZimTrade banner at ZITF for about four years and she said this has helped them a lot to establish their brand.
ZimTrade works with SMEs through various initiatives in a bid to assist them to be export-ready.
The target is to grow the country’s exports through capacitating SMEs who are now the drivers of different economies.
Mr Langa Moyo, the founder of Comrades Beverages a Bulawayo company, which is producing alcoholic beverages was one of the beneficiaries of the Eagle’s Nest incubator programme. He said after winning the race, he got financial assistance, which helped him to get equipment and other critical raw materials to boost the business.
“ZimTrade has helped us a lot capacity wise and building the company and we have improved our network, as we now know a lot of stakeholders for a whole lot of things that are associated with our business,” said Mr Moyo.
“This year’s trade showcase will help us to meet our potential clients, distributors and people who are in the tourism sector because that’s our target market, so it’s a great opportunity for us.”
Another exhibitor, Ms Vanessa Cottam, a marketing manager for Hippo Studios, a Bulawayo company that is into ceramics said:
“We are very privileged to display our products at this year’s trade fair, thanks to ZimTrade for the support to our small business for us to be able to say hello to the large business community.
“I hope we will get orders from this event and interact with some of our potential customers from neighbouring countries like Botswana.”
A day before the start of the exhibition, ZimTrade Southern Region manager, Mrs Jackie Nyathi said they were looking forward to receiving many visitors, to have a taste of what they have to offer as a company. — @SikhulekelaniM1
Online Reporter