Chronicle Editor
Sikhulekelani Moyo, [email protected]
WOMEN entrepreneurs have commended export capacity building programmes by ZimTrade for helping them expand market footprint into the region and beyond the African continent.
Through its targeted approaches for women and youth-led enterprises, ZimTrade has been involved in export readiness trainings and has periodically facilitated participation in budding businesses in local and foreign trade expos.
Among its flagship programmes is the “Next She Exporter”, which targets women-led enterprises, and the “Eagle’s Nest”, which is an international award-winning incubator programme for youths.
The agency also offers branding and packaging trainings for the international market, which empowers entrepreneurs with skills to brand and provide global appeal for their products.
Last week, ZimTrade hosted the Zimbabwe Exporters Conference, which was marked by seminars and exhibitions where buyers from the region and abroad visited different companies across the country.
Women who were also exhibiting during the export week, said due to the assistance from ZimTrade, they have been able to break into exporting, saying the expo has also boosted their efforts.
“At a small scale, we are exporting to Zambia and we are excited that during the Zimbabwe Export Week, we have met several buyers from Zambia and South Africa that are keen to work with us,” said Mrs Sibusisiwe Chitewe of Das Foods.
“We have also been engaging with our local organisations like Buy Zimbabwe and Standard Association of Zimbabwe in terms of certification because we realised that could be a point of disadvantage if not done properly.
“Being SMEs, we desire that the package they offer for standardisation be something that is within our reach.
“As SMEs, we face a challenge in penetrating some markets but fortunately, we have been capacitated by ZimTrade through the branding and marketing for exporters, and we are beneficiaries of the ‘Next She Exporter programme’.”
Mrs Chitewe said the programmes by ZimTrade have also capacitated them with information on how to brand and package for the international market, understanding different trade and bilateral agreements in which Zimbabwe is a signatory and tariffs to different markets.
ZimTrade also offers SMEs an opportunity to exhibit in different international trade shows, which include the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF and the Global Expo Botswana, among other shows.
“These opportunities by ZimTrade have assisted us to build confidence, in as much as exports are concerned, we have had an opportunity to participate at the Zimbabwe Agricultural Show and we have also participated at the Global Expo Botswana, ZITF and the MucFrut in Italy, which has given us a lot of recognition,” she said.
Das Foods is a Bulawayo women-led agri-processing company that produces different sources, small-grain mealie-meal spreads and butter.
Another Bulawayo women-led company, Divine Pro, revealed that the ZimTrade initiatives have played a critical role, which has seen an improvement in its product quality, packaging, branding and market access.
“ZimTrade has been my great help from the beginning. I have gone for different training sessions under ZimTrade. My branding and even marketing weren’t good,” said Devine Pro director, Ms Providence Moyo.
“I have been to Botswana under ZimTrade and as I speak right now, there is a wholesale in Botswana that wants our products.
“ZimTrade made me improve on the packaging and I also won an award from the ‘Next She Exporter’ programme, from that award, ZimTrade gave me an analysis of what I should improve in my business and I have already improved my packaging and the quality of my products.”
Devine Pro is into value addition of traditional fruits, which include baobab and tamarind, producing juices and essential oils.
The company has recently introduced new products, which include baobab and tamarind candies and baobab coffee. — @SikhulekelaniM1
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter