daniel chigunwe
Business Writer
ZimTrade, the national trade development and promotion agency, is gearing up for its annual Zimbabwe Exporters Week, a premier event aimed at fostering export growth in the country.
The event, scheduled for October 14-18 in Bulawayo, will feature a diverse programme of workshops, seminars and networking opportunities.
According to Dr Kupukile Mlambo, chairman of ZimTrade, the rebranding of the event to Zimbabwe Exporters Week reflects its expanded scope and focus.
“Previously known as the ZimTrade Annual Exporters Conference, we have extended the event to a full week to allow for more in-depth discussions and exploration of export opportunities.”
The week will kick start with a digital skills training session in partnership with Google Africa on October 15.
This initiative is designed to equip youth and female-led businesses with the tools and knowledge to leverage digital platforms for business growth.
The event is also key in supporting some of the existing ZimTrade projects such as the Eagles Nest and Next She Exporter which has successfully capacitated female and youth-led businesses for export into the region and beyond.
One of the highlights of this year’s event is the Buyers Shop at Zim seminar, providing a platform for local businesses to connect with international buyers and explore potential export opportunities in different markets.
Buyers from countries such as Zambia, Mozambique, South Africa, Botswana, Angola, Namibia and UK are expected to attend.
This event is in line with ZimTrade’s services to promote Zimbabwean products for export into various markets through inward and outward missions as well as facilitation of local companies at trade fairs across the world.
The main event, the Exporters Conference and Awards, will take place on October 17 under the theme “Qala, Tanga, Start.”
The President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa will be the guest of honour at the event and is expected to provide valuable insights into the Government’s vision for export growth and the measures being taken by the Government to support Zimbabwean businesses.
The event will also include, industry experts, policymakers and business leaders, to discuss strategies for increasing exports and achieving the national target of USD $7 billion by 2023 and USD $14 billion by 2030.
Dr Mlambo emphasised the importance of fostering dialogue, linkages and partnerships between delegates and business leaders.
“By addressing industry-specific challenges, we aim to produce actionable resolutions that will inform our future activities and improve Zimbabwe’s export capacity,” he said.
“By working together, we can drive Zimbabwe’s export growth and contribute to the country’s economic development,”
Zimbabwean businesses are encouraged to participate in the event so they can gain valuable insights into international markets, establish new partnerships and expand their export reach.
Bongani Ndlovu