Business Reporter
THE ongoing ZimTrade Buyers’ Seminar has proven to be a direct generator of export deals rather than a mere talk show, with early engagements in Bulawayo already unlocking concrete trade agreements between local manufacturers and international buyers.
Addressing local and international delegates during the Harare leg of the seminar on Wednesday, ZimTrade chief executive Mr Allan Majuru said the engagements were delivering tangible commercial outcomes for local enterprises.
Highlighting breakthroughs from Monday’s session in Bulawayo, Mr Majuru revealed that a local company had successfully secured a direct procurement deal with a South African buyer who previously acquired its products through foreign intermediaries.
“Just to say that it was not a talk show,” Mr Majuru said.
“There was a company (in South Africa) that was buying our products, and these products… but they were being sold in South Africa to an intermediary. Now they are going to be sourcing directly from them.”
Beyond the South African deal, negotiations are also progressing for Zimbabwe to export farm implements to Angola.
The Harare seminar—held as part of the annual Exporters Week events—drew international buyers and trade delegations from Mozambique, Zambia, Rwanda, Angola, the United Kingdom, Poland, China and Germany.
The trade engagements come on the back of a strong national trade performance. Between January and September 2026, Zimbabwe’s merchandise exports surged by 61 percent to US$10,4 billion from US$6,48 billion recorded during the comparative period in 2025.
Imports rose 35 percent to US$9,76 billion, delivering a trade surplus of approximately US$600 million. Mr Majuru noted that the bulk of imports consisted of industrial machinery and capital equipment required to expand domestic production capabilities.
Value-added exports climbed 68 percent to US$671 million during the nine months, keeping Zimbabwe on track towards achieving a US$1 billion processed export sector by 2030.
To sustain regional export growth, Mr Majuru urged local exporters to capitalise on key cross-border demands by expanding the supply of Zimbabwean processed foods into Zambia, delivering agribusiness inputs and equipment to support Mozambique’s food security initiatives, exporting quality building and construction materials to Rwanda and providing mining equipment, consumables, and industrial services to the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
Exporters are encouraged to leverage existing preferential trade agreements under SADC, COMESA, the UK-ESA Economic Partnership Agreement, the EU EPA, and China’s expanded zero-tariff framework.
To sustain this momentum, ZimTrade is partnering with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade to establish commercial trade hubs and warehousing infrastructure overseas, bringing Zimbabwean products closer to end buyers in regional and global markets.
The Buyers Seminar is an initiative of Afreximbank and the local events are being sponsored by Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe, with Zimpapers being the official media partner.
