President Mnangagwa is expected in Bulawayo today to headline national trade promotion and development body ZimTrade’s Annual Exporters’ Conference and Awards, a crucial occasion on Zimbabwe’s corporate calendar.
The event coincides with the significant rise in Zimbabwe’s export earnings, fuelled by strong performance in key sectors and growing demand for local products in traditional and emerging markets.
The event brings together the nation’s top exporters, policymakers and industry leaders, highlighting a renewed commitment to enhancing export competitiveness by aligning domestic production strengths with global market opportunities.
This high-level gathering comes hot on the heels of recent statistics from the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency (ZimStat), showing that Zimbabwe’s exports increased to US$9,71 billion in 2025, a 30 percent rise from US$7,43 billion in 2024.
This performance significantly surpassed the export growth target of 10 percent, indicating renewed momentum in the country’s export-led growth strategy.
ZimTrade chief executive officer Mr Allan Majuru said in a statement that the “goal is to sustain and accelerate this momentum in value-added exports”.
“Strategic alignment between Government policy and business execution is critical. This conference is the definitive platform to forge that collaboration and set our national export agenda for the year.”
This year’s edition runs under the theme “Rooted Locally, Growing Globally” as the national trade development and promotion agency steps up efforts to boost Zimbabwe’s exports.
According to ZimTrade, the event will offer exporters a rare opportunity to engage directly with national leadership on policy and practice affecting the export sector.
Participants will also gain insights from an international line-up of speakers, including Ms Mitslal Kifleyesus-Matschie, founder and chief executive officer of Ecopia (Ethiopia), Alex Musembi, co-founder and general manager of Africa Collect Textiles (Kenya) and Mr Nicholas Mudungwe, executive director of the Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (Ethiopia).
Their sessions will provide actionable frameworks for integrating into global value chains, adopting sustainable trade models, and leveraging technologies such as AI to drive export growth.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira and Industry and Commerce Minister Nqobizitha Mangaliso Ndlovu are also expected to attend.
As per tradition, the expo will conclude with an awards gala dinner, where top exporters in various categories will be recognised for their contribution to growing the country’s exports.
Mr Allan Majuru
An award to note is the Intra-Africa Trade Award, introduced last year to bolster regional commerce, ZimTrade added.
“With only 20 percent of Africa’s trade occurring within the continent, this award is vital. It recognises and promotes the pioneers driving Zimbabwe’s strategic participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” said Mr Majuru.
Deliberations at this year’s conference are expected to feed into ZimTrade’s ongoing efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe’s export capacity, diversify markets and products, and improve the ease of doing export business.
With exports gaining momentum under the Second Republic’s engagement and re-engagement thrust, today’s event is set to reaffirm Zimbabwe’s commitment to building a resilient, competitive and inclusive export-driven economy.
Data from ZimStat indicates that cumulative export earnings for January–November 2025 totalled US$8,57 billion, a 27 percent increase from US$6,74 billion in the corresponding period in 2024. This upward trajectory has played a pivotal role in narrowing the national trade deficit, which decreased by 69 percent, falling from US$2,1 billion in 2024 to US$644 million in 2025 — a significant step toward a more balanced and sustainable export-led economy.
Exports remain a critical pillar of Zimbabwe’s economic transformation agenda, providing foreign currency, supporting industrialisation, creating jobs and strengthening macro-economic stability.
Increased export earnings enhance the country’s capacity to import key raw materials, machinery and technology required for value addition and infrastructure development.
The surge also underlines Zimbabwe’s gradual integration into global trade, enhanced by the economic diplomacy agenda being implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, which continues to provide consistent support for improving the business environment and trade facilitation services.
Zimbabwe has set an ambitious target to increase its national exports of goods and services by at least 10 percent annually, aiming to grow from US$4,5 billion in 2018 to US$7 billion by 2023, with a further goal of US$14 billion by 2030.
The current performance places the country firmly on course toward achieving the 2030 target.
ZimTrade, in its recent update said, services exports also recorded notable growth, totalling US$485,6 million, up 12 percent from US$434,1 million in 2024, reflecting expansion in sectors such as tourism, transport and professional services.
The United Arab Emirates remains Zimbabwe’s top export destination, with local exports increasing by 71,6 percent from US$2,46 billion in 2024 to US$4,16 billion in 2025.
Exports to this market are mainly anchored by gold, which has seen a sharp increase in value. South Africa remains a major trading partner, accounting for 22,8 percent of total exports, underscoring the importance of regional trade within SADC and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
Further momentum is expected as Zimbabwe prepares to assume the chairmanship of COMESA later this year, taking over from Kenya, a move anticipated to strengthen the country’s regional trade influence and unlock new export opportunities.-herald
