adminTrade remains an engine for growth for most industrialising countries such as Zimbabwe, however, developments at the broader level pose significant challenges to its contribution to the growth of the economy and particular industries.
For instance, Zimbabwe was party to the recently operationalised interim Economic Partnership Agreement (iEPA) and is also a member of the East and Southern Africa States (ESA), which is currently involved in negotiations with the European Union towards implementation of the full EPAs. There are, however, concerns that
Zimbabwe’s full EPA ratification will pose further challenges for local industry, which is currently uncompetitive as due to a number of challenges inherent in the local operating environment such as illiquidity and high base costs.
These are some of the issues that will be addressed by international trade expert Dr Moses Tekere, who is one of the guest speakers at the upcoming congress.
Dr Tekere holds a PhD in International Economic Relations and has over 20 years experience in international trade negotiations especially EPAs, World Trade Organisation systems and regional trade integration.
He also has experience in regulation of international economic relations, African regional economic integration, international economics, international trade and finance, trade policy, economic and social development policies, industrial policy, informal sector economics, African development, economic crisis, debt, aid and political economy of development.
He has experience at various academic institutions in Southern Africa and Japan having worked with various national governments in East and Southern Africa (Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Uganda Zambia, Zimbabwe as well as for the Southern Africa Development Community and Comesa secretariats.
Zimbabwe has been steadily widening its international trade, especially by boosting its engagement with the BRICS nations (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) — a trend that is reflective of trends at the continental level.
The Economic Commission for Africa in its Economic Report on Africa 2012 noted that countries on the continent are increasingly diversifying trading relationships towards the emerging economic powers.
For instance, the report notes that China and India now consume 12,5 percent and 4 percent of Africa’s exports — representing 5 percent and 8 percent of these countries’ imports.
However, Dr Tekere, who is currently the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa chief technical advisor on EPAs for the ESA, recently urged the country to fortify its trade relations with the European Union.
Other trade matters that have posed challenges for local exporters relate to tariffs, export incentives, and intra-African trade among others and are also expected to be topical at the ZNCC congress.
Online Reporter