ZimTrade trains over 100 female exporters
National trade development and promotion agency, ZimTrade, says over 100 female entrepreneurs were capacitated with export knowledge and skills across Zimbabwe under its NextShe Exporter programme in 2022.
This emerged at ZimTrade’s High Tea Event held in Harare on Friday last week, which marked the conclusion of the 2022-23 edition of NextShe Exporter while unveiling the 2023-24 edition of the programme.
ZimTrade introduced the NetShe Exporter initiative in April last year, as it sought to empower women entrepreneurs by nurturing their market awareness skills and knowledge and ultimately grow exports from Zimbabwe.
According to ZimTrade, the programme was specially designed to empower Zimbabwean women entrepreneurs through personalised business mentorship, professional export knowledge and skills, as well as tools and networks, to transform their enterprises into successful and sustainable
export businesses.
Through supervision from mentors and industry veterans, the programmes endeavours to instil basic business practices like budgeting, record keeping and structuring of finances to ensure the bankability of business.
Normally, banks or financial institutions require safe haven for their funding, making it a prerequisite for businesses to have an update to date asset register and stock sheets.
The Next She-Exporter initiative creates opportunities for women to contribute significantly towards the country’s exports growth by equipping them with knowledge and information about the export business.
The programme intends to improve women’s business competitiveness on the export market.
Speaking at the event, ZimTrade chief executive officer Mr Allan Majuru said he was confident that the Next She-Exporter programme would continue to be successful in its mission to empower women entrepreneurs and create a brighter future for women run enterprises.
“As this edition of Next She-Exporter programme comes to an end, ZimTrade looks back with pride on the accomplishments of the participating female entrepreneurs. The stories of these women demonstrate the power of female economic empowerment in helping to create an equitable society.
“These women also showcase the importance of providing women with access to resources and the support they need to turn their businesses into successful, sustainable ventures. It has been 12 months since the launch in April 2022, but we have witnessed a lot of progress. The programme has
birthed new exporters, new innovative products as well as new partnerships and collaborations along the way,” said Mr Majuru.
Foreign Affairs and International Trade Deputy Minister David Musabayana said the Second Republic was committed to creating an enabling environment that allows women to start and grow their businesses for exports.
“As we advance our economic diplomacy, our embassies are geared to facilitate the development of your footprint into the export market. I invite you, our private sector, to approach and work with our Foreign Missions which stand ready to facilitate and promote your business endeavours in
support of national development.
“I would like to encourage all stakeholders to continue working together for the economic betterment of our country. We can build this country, one company at a time, one woman at a time. The progress is in our combined efforts as a nation,” said Deputy Minister Musabayana.
Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Deputy Minister Dr Jennifer Mhlanga commented on ZimTrade for building the entrepreneurship capacity of women and turning them into professional exporters. “The Next She Exporter Programme is complimenting my ministry‘s efforts to empower women in order to achieve gender equality. As you know my Ministry is at the forefront of promoting mainstreaming of women in the main economic sectors such as mining, agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and trade.
“This is also providing women entrepreneurs the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the economic mainstay and to be successful leaders,” Deputy Minister Mhlanga.
The event also awarded exceptional participants in the 2022 – 23 edition of the NextShe Exporter programme, who exhibited high quality outcomes reflecting the effectiveness of the programme.
Choice Rusike Was crowned the Next She Exporter of the year, her company Jadesave Investments produces chemicals for the construction industry while Nelisiwe Karara of Ekhaya Natural Products won the best value addition for her product range that includes wines produced from indigenous
ingredients such as tsubvu and marula.
Zororo Taruvinga the proprietor of Zorro ne Mugoti was awarded the Most Innovative Business as she manufactures snacks from millet, sorghum or rapoko, mbambaira and gogoya chips and masawu sauce. Environment Impact award went to Lucy Murengami, Social Impact Award went to Chipo
Chikomo while Samukhele Phiri of Hesta marketing won the award for marketing and brand strategy.-herald
