By Patience Rashai
As COVID-19 cases continue to recede, buoyed by a huge recovery rate amongst locals, export promotion body, ZimTrade has dug deep to scout for new markets and business opportunities for local firms via virtual trade platforms across the continent.
The trade promotion body says it has taken heed to Government’s call to initiate new ideas to kick start business, especially exports, amidst the restrictive corona induced regulations in the region.
Following up to the second session of the Zimbabwe-Botswana Bi-National Commission (BNC) held earlier this year in Botswana, ZimTrade strengthened ties further by organising a virtual trade mission last week.
Commenting on the trade mission, Zimtrade, Chief Executive, Allan Majuru said that Botswana was one of Zimbabwe’s traditional trading partners and hence seek to tap into existing trade opportunities as well as seek synergies in uncharted areas.
“Private companies from Botswana and Zimbabwe organised an online trade promotion showcase last week, the first of its kind between the two countries in a bid to keep the wheels of commerce turning in the midst of the new corona virus pandemic.
“Under normal circumstances trade missions would have been deployed, but COVID-19 travel restrictions have necessitated innovative ways for business to interact,” he said.
Organised by the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre (BITC) and ZimTrade, the virtual showcase connected exporters with buyers, agents and distributors.
In a statement on twitter after attending the virtual trade showcase, Ezulu Feeds Bulawayo regional manager, Similo Nkala said they had since scooped a contract to supply garlic oil.
“Ezulu Foods attended the Zimbabwe – Botswana Virtual Trade. We are delighted that we managed to clinch a deal with Go Botswana and our original garlic oil is going to Botswana,” he said.
Prior to the virtual trade showcase, a 2019 ZimTrade survey had noted potential for Zimbabwean businesses to supply Botswana with processed foods such as pork products, tinned foods, cereals, milk and milk-based products and fresh farm produce; as well as agricultural implements and inputs, building materials and mining supplies, among other things.
Apart from Botswana, ZimTrade is also facilitating virtual trade showcases with Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda.
