Online Reporter
Michael Tome
Business Reporter
ZimTrade and the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish the Zimbabwe Export Manufacturers Initiative, a platform aimed at improving the competitiveness of local manufacturers and expanding the country’s value-added exports.
The partnership seeks to transform Zimbabwe’s manufacturing sector into a more competitive, export-driven industry.
Rather than simply increasing the number of exporters, the partnership seeks to help manufacturers produce higher-value goods that can compete successfully in regional and international markets in terms of quality, productivity, cost and reliability.
The two organisations say Zimbabwe has access to large markets through trade agreements such as SADC, COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
However, market access alone has not translated into significant growth in manufactured exports, which still account for less than 10 percent of the country’s total exports.
The national trade promotion and development body and CZI contend that local manufacturers need stronger productive capacity, better standards compliance, efficient logistics, access to finance and market intelligence to exploit these opportunities fully.
To address these challenges, CZI and ZimTrade have established the Manufacturing Exporters’ Initiative, a structured platform that will bring together exporters, export-ready manufacturers and other stakeholders to identify barriers to competitiveness and develop practical, evidence-based solutions.
The initiative will focus on improving productivity, reducing production costs, addressing tariff and non-tariff barriers, strengthening trade facilitation, enhancing investment readiness and positioning Zimbabwean manufacturers in regional and continental value chains.
It also seeks to strengthen the link between industry and policymakers.
CZI will use research and feedback from manufacturers to advocate for policy reforms, while ZimTrade will provide expertise in export development, market intelligence, trade promotion and market access.
Together, they aim to connect the entire export value chain—from policy and enterprise competitiveness to export readiness, market access and sustained market penetration.
Ultimately, the initiative forms part of a broader industrialisation strategy that seeks to increase value addition, expand manufactured exports, attract investment, create jobs and ensure Zimbabwe captures greater benefits from regional and global trade opportunities.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, ZimTrade chief executive Mr Allan Majuru said the initiative comes at a time when Zimbabwe’s exports are growing but remain heavily concentrated in primary commodities.
He said merchandise exports increased to about US$9.7 billion in 2025 from US$7.43 billion in 2024, with exports reaching approximately US$5.89 billion during the first six months of 2026.
However, Mr Majuru noted that primary commodities accounted for about 93.5 percent of merchandise exports during the first half of 2026, while value-added products contributed only 6.1 percent.
“Our challenge is no longer simply to grow exports but to transform the composition of those exports. We need Zimbabwe to be recognised not only for the resources that come out of our ground and farms, but for products designed and manufactured in our factories,” he said.
Mr Majuru said the Manufacturing Exporters’ Initiative would provide a structured platform for manufacturers to engage in export development, competitiveness and market access.
