HARARE, Mar. 18 (NewsDay Live) – Zimbabwe is stepping up trade diplomacy with Uganda, as officials and business leaders push to turn long-standing political ties into concrete commercial deals to boost exports, investment, and industrial cooperation.
Trade between the two countries remains heavily skewed in Uganda’s favour. Zimbabwe imported goods worth US$829,206.02 from Uganda, against exports of US$109,869.63, according to the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe–Uganda Business Forum on Wednesday, Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi said the platform should translate strong bilateral relations into tangible economic gains.
“Let us use this forum to turn our strong friendship into concrete business opportunities that benefit our peoples,” he said, expressing confidence the engagements would unlock new trade and investment avenues.
Ziyambi said Zimbabwe’s foreign policy prioritises trade promotion, with diplomats positioned as drivers of economic transformation.
ZimTrade chief executive Allan Majuru said bilateral trade has strong growth potential, with partnerships expected to go beyond improving statistics to advancing regional integration.
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“They can help build a more integrated, self-reliant African economy better positioned in global trade,” he said, urging stronger planning and use of existing cooperation networks.
Majuru stressed the need to expand value addition and participation in regional value chains, saying this would drive jobs, productivity, foreign currency earnings, and industrial growth.
Uganda’s Ambassador to South Africa, Paul Amoru — also accredited to several Southern African countries including Zimbabwe — said the forum would foster practical business linkages and shared prosperity.
He highlighted the role of Uganda’s diaspora, estimated at over 1.6 million globally, and called for greater investment-driven partnerships.
Amoru identified manufacturing, agro-processing, medical services, education, and air transport as high-potential sectors for collaboration.
“These sectors can generate jobs, reduce poverty, and integrate our economies into mainstream financial systems,” he said.