Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira says the value addition of heritage-based products will give Zimbabwe a competitive edge in global markets.
Murwira made the remarks during the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) 2025 business review conference earlier this week.
He said the government would continue to facilitate local production for international markets by strengthening industrial capacity.
“We are actively facilitating efficient value addition and beneficiation of heritage-based products to enhance global competitiveness.
“Government’s approach is anchored on the goal of enhancing local production by supporting domestic producers in the manufacturing and agricultural sectors, so as to position Zimbabwe as the economic hub of the SADC region,” Murwira said.
He added that the government was focused on providing practical, results-oriented facilitation of international trade and robust investment promotion through its diplomatic missions.
“We leverage diplomatic networks to secure international partnerships and investments, reinforcing tourism as a cornerstone contributor to GDP,” Murwira said.
He said partnerships would remain central to this agenda.
“Through (trade development and promotion agency) ZimTrade, we are establishing distribution warehouses at the Walvis Bay Dry Port in Namibia and at Kasumbalesa Border Post in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
“These strategic hubs will enable our local producers to manufacture and export competitively for international markets. Zimbabwe should be an engine of regional growth within SADC, COMESA, and the African Continental Free Trade Area,” Murwira said.
“In 2026, the Government will have a fleet of trucks dedicated to transporting finished goods from Zimbabwe to these initial distribution centres; From there, products will be channelled into markets across Eastern and Central Africa, as well as Western Europe and the Americas.
“This integrated export logistics system will significantly improve market access for Zimbabwean goods and position our industries to compete more effectively on both the regional and continental markets, as well as globally.”
