‘Expo 2025 to create new opportunities for Zim, Japan’

Japanese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Yamanaka Shinichi has said Expo 2025 Osaka to be held in his country from April 13 to October 13 this year presents a valuable opportunity for Zimbabwean and Japanese businesses to discover new opportunities for business and collaborations.

According to ZimTrade, the country’s premier trade promotion and development body, the value and volume of trade between Zimbabwe and Japan, Asia’s second-biggest after China, remains low despite the longstanding cordial relations between the two countries.

Collaborations between Zimbabwean companies and Japanese information technology (IT) firms, particularly small-scale enterprises, could be highly beneficial.

Zimbabwe’s young and talented human resources hold significant potential for collaborations in the IT sector, including the software industry.

Japan holds a strong position in global IT rankings, particularly in innovation and technology, with notable universities and institutions excelling in computer science and engineering.

Japan ranks 13th among 133 economies, according to the Global Innovation Index (GII), which assesses innovation capabilities.

In terms of technological expertise, Japan consistently ranks among the top countries globally, often appearing in the top 5-10, and is recognised for its advancements in areas like robotics, electronics, and automotive engineering.

“That expo will be a good platform for both Zimbabwean and Japanese companies to realise new opportunities for businesses and to find suitable partners for collaboration. I find good potential in the software business here by using the young, talented human resources.

“Also I think it may be useful to collaborate with Japanese IT companies or small-scale companies. They have a very unique and good technology and their decision-making is quite quick and flexible,” said Ambassador Shinichi.

Zimbabwe intends to use the global exhibition to grow its investment and trade deals as well as tourist arrivals by 10 and 15 percent respectively.

This comes after Zimbabwe successfully participated in Expo 2020 Dubai where it secured trade partnerships and investments from the Asian continent.

Following its participation in Expo 2020 Dubai, Zimbabwe achieved several milestones, including the US$250 million joint venture agreement between the Agriculture and Rural Development Authority (ARDA) and NV Group of India to establish a brewery in Masvingo.

The Zimbabwe Tourism Authority (ZTA) struck a partnership with the Dubai National Air Travel Agency (DNATA) to market local tourism offerings.

Through its participation in Expo 2025 Osaka, Zimbabwe will showcase its economic potential, and the many investment opportunities in the country, to potential investors from around the world.

The country will also be able to project its culture and heritage to a global audience, which could help drive interest in the country’s tourism sector and increase visitors to the country.

Expos provide an opportunity for Zimbabwean enterprises to meet and connect with potential investors, new business opportunities and collaborations.

Zimbabwe aims to showcase its diverse offerings through exhibitions, B2B meetings, commercial activities, cultural exchanges, and demonstrations.

It will also conduct side events such as trade and investment seminars, and business forums among other activities to amplify the country’s presence in Japan.

Zimbabwe aims to welcome at least 3 million visitors to its pavilion, showcasing the country’s vast trade and investment opportunities, natural beauty, and rich cultural heritage.

The platform will also raise global awareness of Zimbabwe as a premier destination to live, work, study, visit, and conduct business.

As one of the oldest and largest international events, the expo has been held every five years since 1851, providing a prestigious global platform for showcasing achievements, innovation, collaboration, and cooperation.

Over 28 million visitors from across the world are expected to attend the event while over 150 countries have confirmed their participation in this six-month-long exhibition.

Zimbabwe’s participation in the global event presents a unique and invaluable opportunity to strengthen its trade relations with Japan, Asia and the global community.

By leveraging this platform, Zimbabwe can effectively promote its trade and investment potential, foster new partnerships, and enhance its visibility on the international stage.

Zimbabwe has over the years been engaging with Japan to establish a trade protocol and pave the way for the export of high-demand products such as avocados and citrus fruits.

This development is particularly timely, as the growing global population has become increasingly aware of healthier lifestyles, creating a surge in demand for nutritious products.

As a result, Zimbabwe is well-positioned to capitalize on this trend by expanding its exports of healthy goods, including blueberries, to cater to the rising demand for healthier living options.

Zimbabwe also holds significant potential for exporting various oils, with several companies already exploring opportunities in this sector. Avocado oil and citrus oil are just a few examples of the value-added products being developed.

Additionally, there is a growing interest in heritage-based products, such as Amarula and Baobab oils, which not only showcase the country’s rich cultural heritage but also offer a unique selling proposition in the global market.

The Expo which will run under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives” supported by three subthemes “Connecting lives”, “Saving lives” and “Empowering lives” is expected to enhance Zimbabwe’s visibility, networking opportunities, learning opportunities, and competitive analysis.

The participation of local players at the occasion intends to benchmark Zimbabwe’s product offering whilst tapping from international best practices.

It will create a platform for the government to engage with international investors and promote policies that encourage Foreign Direct Investment (FDI).

“We have a commercial space where we will display some of our artifacts products and also leather and other related products that we feel will be beneficial in terms of them being exhibited at that Expo.

“We are currently getting content from the country’s 10 provinces. I think so far to date we have got content from Matabeleland South, Matabeleland North, Bulawayo, and Midlands and we should be moving to Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland West where we really want to showcase what Zimbabwe has to offer both on the trade, tourism and the investment side of things.

“People are now looking to live healthier so we should also be showcasing products like blueberries, avocado and citrus and oils which are more for people to live healthier,” said ZimTrade Chief Operations Officer Mr Similo Nkala in an interview with Star FM.

The six-month event offers a platform to attract international investors and businesses who are interested in exploring new markets and expanding their operations.

herald