LOCAL companies, which attended a trade mission in Tanzania this week, have said they will soon start exporting to the east African nation after clinching promising deals.
Trade development and promotion agency, ZimTrade, held the Zimbabwe-Tanzania trade mission, where 10 local firms participated.
The firms told NewsDay Business that the mission had helped them to unlock opportunities in Tanzania.
“I came here to look for opportunities for my business and I want to start exporting my products to Tanzania,” Onekai Bespoke Furniture director Ornnessi Mphande, said.
“I have met a number of people including logistics companies and some hoteliers who are looking forward to receiving my products. In terms of deals clinched so far, we are still in negotiations, it’s a process but it’s looking good, positive and the future is definitely bright.”
Mphande said ZimTrade offered them training on branding and company registration under its NextShe Exporter programme, an export development programme targeted at identifying women in business and developing them to meet the demands of trade in export products and services.
Caroline Godzongere of Picmost Collection said the mission was beneficial to the brand because the firm managed to meet several customers who were interested in their products.
“We have also managed to liaise with different fashion designers and we have plans to synergise our work. We are also looking forward to having our products in the Tanzanian museum, Arusha, where most of the tourists (to) Tanzania (go),” she said.
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Irene Mugwagwa of Sucille Handcrafts said: “I have managed to interact with a couple of people teaching me how to make the beads. We are also here to source materials. I am going to be using these materials for my products.”
Petralee Investments director Linda Uswahwengayi Mututu said the mission had widened her view about trade.
“From this mission, I have managed to do some deals and I am expecting to export some of my products to Tanzania. We will seal the deals in a few weeks. Definitely I am going to be doing business in Tanzania,” she said.
Jaswait Holdings director Justice Kuwanje said Tanzania was full of business opportunities and they were looking forward to exporting to the east African country.
Regional markets, according to ZimTrade, provide a soft landing for Zimbabwean products because they are easy to access and do not have strict requirements.
Given Zimbabwe’s proximity to Tanzania, the organisation said small businesses should consider the country a springboard to other international markets.
Data produced during the trade mission showed that Harare exported goods and services valued at US$12 million to Tanzania this year.
Tanzania exported goods valued at US$14 million to Zimbabwe during the same period.
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