THE United Kingdom will showcase a series of high-impact bilateral trade partnerships with Harare at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair in Bulawayo next week, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening bilateral ties with Zimbabwe.
This year’s exhibition will run from April 20 to 25 at the Zimbabwe International Conference and Exhibition Smart City (ZICES) in Bulawayo under the theme: “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries.”
Having returned to the premier business exhibition in 2022 after a 20-year absence, the embassy is once again set to make a notable presence.
In a Facebook post, the British Embassy in Harare said: “The United Kingdom (UK) in Zimbabwe team will be in Bulawayo during ZITF week, profiling how people from across the UK and Zimbabwe are building a new partnership on trade, investments, sharing expertise and tackling problems together.”
The UK said it is committed to strengthening bilateral relations with Zimbabwe, with a particular focus on enhancing trade and investment between the two countries.
The British Embassy in Zimbabwe is supporting a pipeline of investment projects from British companies worth close to US$1 billion, targeting the dairy, mining and solar renewable energy sectors.
Mr Pete Vowles, British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, announced initiatives to double trade with Zimbabwe, highlighting agribusiness as a major focus for cooperation.
Post-Brexit, the UK has been working to establish new trade agreements and strengthen existing ones.
In 2024, Zimbabwe exported US$17.2 million worth of goods to the UK, a decline from US$21.4 million in 2023. These exports primarily consist of tobacco, ferro-alloys and fresh produce such as citrus fruits and vegetables.
Zimbabwe has opportunities to expand its exports to the UK by focusing on high-demand sectors like ethically sourced tobacco, organic produce and niche agricultural products.
Challenges include meeting stringent UK and EU standards, improving supply chain efficiency, and navigating post-Brexit trade dynamics.
Responding to the Facebook post by the UK in Zimbabwe, some local businesspeople expressed interest in interacting with the UK team, with some seeking clarity on horticulture exports to the UK.
“Would love to hear about exporting agricultural products to the UK. Where do I find the requirements?” reads one of the comments.
Meanwhile, Botswana President Advocate Duma Gideon Boko is expected to officially open the 66th edition of the ZITF.
The official opening ceremony is scheduled for April 23 at ZICES in Bulawayo.
The annual exhibition is one of the region’s leading trade and investment platforms, drawing exhibitors and visitors from across the globe, and is expected to further strengthen regional economic integration and industrial competitiveness.
Last year, an estimated US$296 million to US$379 million worth of business leads were generated at the expo, according to organisers.
Under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), the ZITF is expected to move beyond a general exhibition format toward more focused, sector-driven engagements aimed at facilitating tangible business deals, technology transfer, and investment commitments.
By strengthening sector-specific matchmaking, the upgraded ZITF will help local firms integrate into regional and global value chains, improve competitiveness, and stimulate sustainable export growth.-herald
