THE Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries has urged the private sector to utilise trade agreements that Zimbabwe has signed to strengthen export competitiveness and reduce cross-border trade costs.
Zimbabwe is a signatory to several regional, bilateral and multilateral trade agreements designed to reduce trade barriers and increase export competitiveness.
The southern African country is a signatory to the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to expand trade within Africa.
Zimbabwe is also a signatory to the SADC Trade Protocol, as a member of the Southern African Development Community.
Similarly, the country is a member of the Common Market for Southern Africa (COMESA) Trade Protocol, which allows preferential trade with other member states.
It also enjoys preferential trade terms under the COMESA, East African Community (EAC)-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area, which connects three major regional blocks.
CZI, in collaboration with the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA), recently hosted a seminar on the utilisation of trade agreements and facilitation tools in Mutare for manufacturers, exporters, SMEs, customs clearing agents and trade and logistics officers.
The engagement strengthened practical industry understanding of Rules of Origin compliance, tariff navigation, trade facilitation instruments and Non-Tariff Barrier (NTB) resolution mechanisms. This is expected to drive trade efficiency, export readiness and participation in regional value chains.
“Improved private sector capacity to utilise regional and continental trade agreements is critical to strengthening Zimbabwe’s export competitiveness, reducing cross-border trade costs, and increasing access to preferential markets under frameworks such as AfCFTA, SADC, COMESA, EU-ESA-EPA and UK-ESA-EPA,” said CZI in its recent X post.
CZI also said Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda depends on stronger linkages between local production, supply chains and procurement systems.
To this end, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in collaboration with the CZI, recently convened a Policy and Regulatory Consultative Meeting on Local Content Development and Implementation.
The engagement brought together industry leaders, manufacturers, retailers, suppliers, researchers and policymakers to review proposed local content thresholds across sectors, including oilseeds, textiles and clothing, soaps and detergents, dairy, leather, iron and steel, and wood and furniture.
Discussions focused on strengthening domestic value chains, improving industrial competitiveness, reducing import dependence, and supporting local production capacity.
A key theme throughout the discussions was the need for stronger coordination between policy, procurement, industry, and investment frameworks to support sustainable industrial growth and greater local value addition.-herald
