Zimbabwe seeks to increase exports to Namibia, with ZimTrade identifying leather and horticultural products among key sectors with strong potential to drive growth in bilateral trade between the two countries.
The renewed focus emerged following a meeting between ZimTrade chief executive officer Allan Majuru and Namibian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, David Thomas, where the two parties discussed initiatives aimed at strengthening trade relations and unlocking new market opportunities for Zimbabwean businesses.
Majuru said there was significant scope to expand trade between Zimbabwe and Namibia, particularly through targeted interventions designed to improve market access for local exporters.
“While current trade volumes have significant room for growth, the discussions focused on practical measures that can help unlock opportunities for Zimbabwean exporters and strengthen commercial linkages between our nations,” said Majuru.
He noted that Namibia presents an attractive market for Zimbabwean products due to its strategic location, growing consumer demand and position within the Southern African region.
"ZimTrade is actively unlocking new export opportunities in the Namibian market, specifically targeting the leather and horticultural sectors. These industries have demonstrated strong potential to compete regionally and internationally, and we believe Namibia offers a valuable entry point for expanding the footprint of Zimbabwean products,” he added.
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Majuru said the organisation was working to ensure that local products enter the Namibian market competitively by addressing barriers that often limit export growth.
“Our focus is not only on identifying opportunities but also on creating avenues that make sure local products can enter this market competitively.
"This includes facilitating business-to-business engagements, providing market intelligence and supporting exporters in meeting market requirements and standards,” he said.
He added that enhancing regional trade remains critical to Zimbabwe’s broader economic development agenda and efforts to increase foreign currency earnings.
“We are committed to fostering partnerships that translate these opportunities into tangible results for our exporters. The ultimate goal is to see more Zimbabwean products on Namibian shelves, increased export earnings for our businesses and stronger economic cooperation between the two countries,” said Majuru.
Namibia is a member of both the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), making it an important regional market for Zimbabwean exporters.