Intense two-week training workshop for Matabeleland north producers

AN exporter capacity-building training workshop is underway in Lupane where
Matabeleland North export cluster members will be gathered for two weeks to share key
knowledge and skills.

ZimTrade is organising the event under its export cluster initiative, a programme that
complements the Government’s devolution agenda towards increasing the contribution
of all districts to the mainstream economy.

To achieve this, there is a need to identify areas of competitive and comparative
advantage in a locality and capacitate people there to be export-focused.

The art and craft sector represents an untapped opportunity with the potential to
contribute more to the growth of Zimbabwe’s exports.

“For the next two weeks, the arts and crafts cluster in Matabeleland North will learn new
ways of creating appealing products for the European Market, from PUM expert Saskia
Smits,” said ZimTrade in an update today.

“This will go a long way in empowering women in exports.”
PUM, is a Netherlands-based volunteer organisation for retired experts and executives
that supports the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises in developing countries
and emerging markets.

ZimTrade and PUM have been working together to promote export growth, which has
seen the two organisations signing the Memorandum of Understanding meant to pave
the way for the successful implementation of the best model farm project meant to grow
horticultural exports from small-scale farmers across the country.-The Chronicle