LIVINGSTONE MARUFU
ZimTrade has increased engagements with regional markets to explore opportunities for local products and services following the commencement of trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area in January this year, the organisation has said.
The national trade promotion organisation is currently conducting a market survey in Tanzania which runs from April 12 to 23 with the Democratic Republic of Congo market survey running from April 12 to 16.
The two in-market activities are expected to provide market intelligence that will help Zimbabwean companies get an insight in terms of products with an export potential, market requirements as well as export penetration strategies they can use for the two markets, ZimTrade said.
The market survey in Tanzania focuses on processed foods, building and construction, horticulture, and agriculture inputs and implements sectors.
During the survey, ZimTrade will be engaging buyers from leading retail chains in Tanzania to discuss demand patterns and requirements that local exporters will need to meet as they increase exports to that country.
ZimTrade executives have planned to meet with business-member organisations in Tanzania to discuss areas of cooperation that will improve movement of goods and services between the two countries.
The trade organisation will also meet the government-related institutions to discuss ease of doing export business that will improve Zimbabwe’s access to the East-African market.
Speaking on the objectives of the survey in Tanzania, ZimTrade operations director Similo Nkala said regional markets provide a soft landing for Zimbabwean products as they are easy to access and do not have strict requirements.
“There are vast opportunities for local exporters in Tanzania, especially small businesses riding on regional and continental trade agreements. Given the proximity to Tanzania, small businesses should consider the country as a springboard to international markets,” Nkala said.
The import bill of Tanzania has been growing over the past few years, indicating potential for Zimbabwean products.
According to Trade Map, Tanzania imported products and services worth around US$11.57bn in 2019, up from US$7.69bn in 2016.
Top import products, that Zimbabwean manufacturers can export to Tanzania include electrical machinery, pharmaceutical products, animal or vegetable fat, cereals and tobacco.
ZimTrade is conducting a pre-mission assessment in the DRC in preparation for an Outward Seller Mission scheduled for May 18 to 21 in Lubumbashi.
Some of the required products that local businesses can supply include hand-held farming equipment, tractors, cultivators, and planters.
There is a growing interest in animal husbandry in DRC, which is creating opportunities especially in poultry farming, according to ZimTrade.
For agricultural products, there is potential to supply tobacco, meat and edible meat, sugar, cereals, cotton, vegetables, fats and oils, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables.
There are also opportunities for agriculture inputs and supplements, focusing on smallholder farmers as well as established commercial farmers.
