The Sunday Mail
From Kudzanayi Sharara in ZAMBIA
At least 24 Zimbabwean companies are exhibiting their products at the 2019 Zambia Agriculture and Commercial Show under the ZimTrade umbrella.
According to Zimtrade manager (export promotions) Vuyiswa Mafu, Zambia offers plenty of opportunities for Zimbabwean companies.
“Zambia has always been a good market for Zimbabwean products traditionally with a wide range of products finding a market,” said Mrs Mafu.
She said ZimTrade had identified opportunities in the Zambian market and has been bringing local companies to showcase and look for market opportunities for their products.
ZimTrade recently did a market survey in the Zambian market to update and see if there are new opportunities.
“The survey focused on the food sector and also on the mining sector as far as the copper belt,” she said.
Attending the ZACS allows companies to follow up on the opportunities available in the market.
Mrs Mafu said companies that have attended previous shows have always left with confirmed deals worth millions of dollars.
She said the biggest advantage that Zimbabwean products have is the trade agreement that allows exports into Zambia duty-free.
She, however, said Zimbabwean companies were not doing enough to penetrate the Zambian market.
“We believe our companies can do more in this market,” said Mrs Mafu.
“Zambia is one of our major exports market in the region, although as Zimbabwe we need to up the figures of our exports.
“Companies can do more in this market and they can certainly compete against other countries such as South Africa.”
She said local companies have an advantage of proximity to the Zambian market as well as the trade agreements that exist between the two countries.
“We trade with Zambia using the COMESA trade agreement, which allows us to export our products duty free to this market,” said Mrs Mafu.
Some of the companies exhibiting this year include Tanganda Tea, Mr Sauce, Associated Foods Zimbabwe, as well as Turnall and PG Industries, among others.
