“Currently,
our
horticulture
exports
primarily
target
markets
in
the
European
Union
and
Britain.
We
are
now
looking
to
diversify,
particularly
focusing
on
exporting
fruits
and
vegetables
to
the
Middle
East
and
Asian
markets,
including
China,
Malaysia
and
Indonesia,”
said
Similo
Nkala,
director
of
operations
at
ZimTrade,
Zimbabwe’s
trade
promotion
agency,
on
Friday.
A
significant
milestone
in
Zimbabwe-China
trade
relations
was
achieved
in
2022
when
the
two
countries
signed
a
citrus
deal,
allowing
Zimbabwean
companies
to
export
fresh
citrus
to
China.
“We
have
also
recently
signed
a
trade
protocol
for
avocado
exports,
which
is
a
major
step
toward
diversifying
our
export
markets,”
Nkala
told
Xinhua.
“Discussions
are
ongoing
for
additional
trade
protocols,
including
those
for
blueberries,
sesame
and
chilies.”
Bilateral
trade
between
Zimbabwe
and
China
has
surged
in
recent
years,
reflecting
the
strengthening
ties
between
the
two
countries.
According
to
the
Chinese
Embassy
in
Zimbabwe,
trade
grew
by
25.6
percent
in
the
first
nine
months
of
2024,
reaching
3
billion
U.S.
dollars.
Zimbabwe
exported
2.1
billion
dollars
worth
of
goods
to
China
while
importing
951
million
dollars,
resulting
in
a
trade
surplus
of
about
1
billion
dollars.
Zimbabwe
enjoys
a
competitive
edge
in
agriculture
due
to
its
fertile
land,
favorable
climate
and
soil
conditions,
Nkala
said.
“There
is
significant
potential
to
increase
our
horticulture
exports,
particularly
fruits
and
vegetables,
to
the
Chinese
market.”
He
added
that
Zimbabwean
exporters
could
improve
their
competitiveness
in
the
vast
Chinese
market
by
consolidating
consignments
to
meet
demand
efficiently.
Zimbabwean
leather
producers
have
also
gained
traction
in
China.
During
the
2024
China
International
Import
Expo
(CIIE),
local
companies
secured
many
orders,
particularly
for
high-demand
leather
products.
The
business
exhibition
of
the
world’s
first
national-level
exposition
dedicated
to
imports
has
attracted
about
3,500
exhibitors
from
129
countries
and
regions
this
year.
Notably,
a
record
high
of
297
Fortune
500
companies
and
industry
leaders
are
attending
the
six-day
expo
that
concluded
on
Nov.
10
in
Shanghai.
And
more
than
400
new
products,
new
technologies
and
new
services
are
unveiled.
“I
have
seen
firsthand
during
trade
fairs
in
China
that
our
leather
products,
are
in
high
demand,”
Nkala
said.
Arts
and
crafts
are
another
promising
sector
for
Zimbabwean
exporters.
Nkala
said
that
artists
participating
in
the
CIIE
generated
over
500,000
dollars
in
business.
“The
potential
is
there,
especially
in
arts
and
crafts,
and
it
remains
largely
untapped,”
he
added.
Post
published
in:
Business