ZimTrade Takes Centre Stage at ZITF, Championing Export-Led Industrialisation

By Ilyana Sithole

Bulawayo – National trade development and promotion organization, ZimTrade, has positioned itself as a leading driver of economic transformation in Zimbabwe during the current Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF). Operating under the theme “Igniting Local Industries for Global Integration,” ZimTrade is active engaging stakeholders at Hall 4, Stand 4F14, to emphasize its multi-dimensional approach towards building a modern, diversified, and inclusive export base.

In line with the national ZITF theme, “Industrialisation: Crafting an Integrated Economic Landscape,” the fact that ZimTrade has a presence reinforces the central position of exports in registering sustainable industrial growth. The organisation is using the platform not only to showcase the potential of Zimbabwean products and services but also to promote its strategic interventions towards turning local productive industries into export machines with global competitiveness.

Discussing their presence at the fair, ZimTrade Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allan Majuru, emphasised the organisation’s focus on demonstrable impact. “Our presence at ZITF 2025 is about showcasing more than products; it’s about demonstrating impact,” he stated. “Through innovation, collaboration, and strategic investment in export development, we are seeing tangible progress in how Zimbabwean businesses position themselves globally. This trade exhibition is a chance to gather all the stakeholders in the value chain and together map a course for a more competitive and inclusive economy.

ZimTrade’s exhibition stand will be providing an on-the-spot flavour of the export potential of Zimbabwe through a rich mix of products and services of companies that have benefited from the organisation’s technical assistance, training programs, and market development initiatives. Feted sectors are agro-processing, horticulture, textile, leather, and manufacturing sectors, which have all demonstrated healthy regional and international expansion in markets under focused interventions.

Among the key messages being advocated for by ZimTrade is the core connection between export competitiveness and local industrialisation. Programs such as the Best Model Farm Programme, Market Intelligence Services, and Export Capacity Development are equipping Zimbabwean businesses with the technical advice and market intelligence necessary to compete globally on standards and preference. These programs are not only opening up new markets but also improving the quality and value of products made locally.

Besides this, ZimTrade is also laying great stress on inclusive trade development. Initiatives such as the Next She Exporter and Eagle’s Nest Youth Export Incubator are in fact engaged in empowering women and youth businesspeople to become capable of contributing meaningfully towards export markets. These customized programs are attempting to provide a bridge between domestic innovation and international trade and have already assisted quite a few emerging exporters in building export-capable brands and sustainable businesses.

Mr. Similo Nkala, Director of Operations at ZimTrade, underscored the importance of inclusivity for sustainable industrialisation. “Industrialisation must be inclusive if it is to be sustainable,” he noted. “By actively supporting women, youth, and rural communities through tailored interventions, we are ensuring that the benefits of trade and industrial growth reach all corners of the country. ZITF gives us the chance to celebrate those stories and create new linkages for the future.”

Visitors to ZimTrade’s stand can expect interactive demonstrations, case studies from successful exporters, and information on upcoming trade missions to Southern Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. The organisation is also providing real-time advice on crucial aspects of exporting, including export readiness, trade documentation, certification requirements, and international market access strategies.

The fact that ZimTrade is attending ZITF further demonstrates the breadth of its growing network of important global alliances. At the same time, enhancing the visibility of local products in global value chains and fortifying Zimbabwes trade integration are partnerships with regional trade promotion organizations and development agencies like Expertise France and PUM Netherlands. Notable programs like the Zim-Bee Honey Project serve as prime examples of how these collaborations are fostering environmentally friendly practices and unlocking export potential in rural areas.

The organizations strategic emphasis on global and regional integration is consistent with Zimbabwes pledges made under agreements like the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). By helping local companies meet global quality standards and fostering trade connections ZimTrade is actively creating the framework for Zimbabwean exporters to increase their international market share.

“This year’s ZITF is particularly significant as it speaks directly to the work we do crafting an export-led economy that thrives on innovation, inclusivity, and integration,” said Jacqueline Nyathi, Manager at ZimTrade’s southern regional office. “We are inviting all stakeholders to visit our stand, engage with our team, and explore how ZimTrade can support their journey to international markets.”

ZimTrade invites all the government stakeholders, investors, exhibitors, and the general public to come and visit and view them at Hall 4, Stand 4F14, and view how local industries are poised to join the world and how trade can fuel long-term prosperity. The organisation’s presence at ZITF promises to showcase the resilience, creativity, and untapped potential within Zimbabwe’s export sector, highlighting the stories of both established and emerging exporters who are contributing to the nation’s economic future