By Shadreck Gurenje
President Mnangagwa has said government continues to simplify trade processes and reduce the cost of doing business.
Addressing business people at the ZimTrade Annual Exporters’ Conference in Bulawayo today ,President Mnangagwa said the modernisation and rehabilitation of key trade corridors as well as ongoing rail and logistics reforms are not isolated projects and more efforts are designed to ensure that Zimbabwean goods move to regional and global markets efficiently and reliably.
“On its part, Government continues to simplify trade processes, reduce the cost of doing business and to modernise border management systems.
A key reform in this regard is the Zimbabwe Electronic Single Window platform which has seen exporters spend less time on paperwork and more on productivity and trade. Meanwhile the centrality of infrastructure development to the Export Growth Strategy cannot be over[1]emphasised. The modernisation and rehabilitation of key trade corridors as well as ongoing rail and logistics reforms are not isolated projects. These strategic investments in competitiveness, are designed to ensure that Zimbabwean goods move to regional and global markets efficiently and reliably.
“Export competitiveness is only being enabled by trade policy but through a Whole-of-Government Approach. This has seen the prevailing macro-economic stability, investment facilitation, streamlined incentives, improved access to finance, as well as predictable and investor-friendly environment for exporters.
“The implementation of programmes for irrigation development, climate-smart agriculture, mechanisation, land tenure security and water infrastructure, guarantees a consistent supply of exportable agricultural products and raw materials for agro-processing. Similarly, robust destination marketing, standards enforcement, skills development, and investment promotion in the tourism sector is yielding positive results. Zimbabwe is fast becoming a tourist destination of choice and service-export hub,”said President Mnangagwa.
The theme for this year’s Conference - is “Rooted Locally, Growing Globally, ”
The Head of State and government also said Zimbabwe must continue to grow by producing and processing more, towards increased export volumes.
“Zimbabwe must, therefore, continue to grow by producing and processing more, towards increased export volumes. All of us, including government, regulators and industry players together with consumers, should scale up synergies to broaden and diversify our industrial base, for entry and expansion into global value chains.
The quest to grow local products into global brands must be prioritized. Further, exports must be rooted in our God given resource endowments, skills and enterprise.
“Dependence on raw exports is no longer sustainable nor desirable. We must earn more from every tonne, every kilogramme, and every product we export. The situation where jobs, value and industrial opportunities are lost, is untenable,” said President Mnangagwa.
On the Agriculture Sector ,President Mnangagwa said tobacco remains a strategic crop which need to progressively moving from raw leaf exports to a wide range of quality cigarettes and tobacco products.
“Under my Administration focus is on local processing, diversifying downstream industries, technology transfer and stronger linkages across the economy. With regards to the agriculture sector, our tobacco remains a strategic crop and we are now progressively moving from raw leaf exports to a wide range of quality cigarettes and tobacco products.
“Equally, the revitalisation of the cotton-to-clothing value chain, strengthening horticulture exports to meet premium market standards, and need to grow livestock production for increased through-put for leather beneficiation are priority areas,”said President Mnangagwa.
President Mnangagwa also challenged the relevant players to be more deliberate towards the value addition of our rich forestry resources into high-value products.
“I challenge the relevant players to be more deliberate towards the value addition of our rich forestry resources into high-value furniture, paper and wood-based products.
“The goal is clear; our country’s processed foods, beverages, engineering products, pharmaceuticals, steel, and manufactured goods should carry the “Made in Zimbabwe” insignia into all markets.
“Our country’s commitment to the Africa Continental Free Trade Area is practical and result-oriented. I urge you all to ensure that Zimbabwean enterprises, especially SMEs, are appropriately structured, supported and capacitated to take advantage of preferential access, rules of origin and regional value chains," said President Mnangagwa.