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@ZimTradeAlerts info@zimtrade.co.zw www.tradezimbabwe.com

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ZimTrade edges closer to launching online store

Contents

Shop@Zim will benefit local exporters

ZimTrade to launch a packaging portal

Zimbabwe, Botswana plan

One-Stop Border Post

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With the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, it is critical to have a strong online presence as conventional means of trading, particularly physical engagement between buyers and exporters have been affected. Although these are unprecedented times for businesses, coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has brought with it a new way of doing business, particularly for most businesses in Africa that had previously under-utilised online platforms. Market scans have revealed that many local producers lack the global presence that could catapult their business into financial success. Potential exporters entering the international market on their own often face steep challenges of acceptance owing to, for example, lack of exposure and skepticism by established buyers. Thus, to assist companies in reaching more markets through online platforms and as a response to COVID-19, ZimTrade is has

developed Shop@Zim, an online platform that will enhance engagements of local companies with international buyers as well as improve the visibility of locally-produced products and services.This is one of technology-centered solutions developed by ZimTrade for local exporters that will expanding the visibility of local exporters, particularly small businesses in international markets.The goal of the store is to be the one stop shop for authentic Zimbabwean products obtained at source. ZimTrade’s online store seeks to be the nurturing, umbrella incubator for all Zimbabwean exports online, capitalising on the already known and reputable name that it bears as the nation’s trade development and promotion body. Shop@Zim is expected to provide an alternative access to markets where physical trade fairs and exhibitions have been suspended.

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Disclaimer:” Disclaimer: ZimTrade strives to compile reliable, research-based information that is passed on to our readers in good faith. However, ZimTrade does notaccept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information supplied, nor does it guarantee the status or reliability of any third party included in the Newsletter.Similarly opinions expressed by third parties in abstracts and/or interviews are not necessarily shared by ZimTrade. For more information about ZimTrade and its activities log on to www.tradezimbabwe.com”

For local companies, the platform will create more streams of generating foreign currency and harness the benefits of the digital economy for corporate level and national level economic growth. It will provide Zimbabwean companies with a medium to still reach out to export markets without being limited by border closures and travel bans. Currently, the platform has been designed to facilitate business to business engagements between local exporters and international buyers. Plans are to expand the platform so that it accommodates purchase of commodities, including product units, by the end users. Undoubtedly, global markets are fast moving towards online transactions and the current environment has created more opportunities for businesses with online business solutions. According to the latest billionaire’s index from Bloomberg, the founder of Amazon Inc, Jeff Bezos in the past six months has added an additional US$26 billion to his Amazon stake, owing to a rapid increase in online sales. DDI Development company statistics state that “there were over 1.79 billion global digital buyers worldwide in 2018 and predictions suggest that 2.14 billion people will buy goods and services online by 2021”. This is a clear indication of the dynamic nature of doing business since COVID-19 and a reason for Zimbabwean businesses to engage through Shop@Zim. Arguably, online trading will increase in the post-COVID-19 given the convenience that consumers around the world are attributing to online platforms.

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Shop@Zim is premised on the need to create a singular window for marketing and selling Zimbabwean products virtually.With regards to accessing the platform, Zimbabwean companies will be hosted for purposes of trading in the international digital economic community.Local companies will also be accessing other services offered by ZimTrade, such as information support, capacity development and export promotion.

ZimTrade will introduce Shop@Zim in the market by initially engaging local companies to register on the platform and thereafter, start marketing the online store to the global world to start engaging local suppliers registered on the platform. Registration onto the platform is free and can be done by simply clicking the www.shopatzim.co.zw link where there are easy steps to be followed en-route registration.

You may currently have an office or shop, which oversees all your business operations and the distribution of your products to customers. However, if you want to find ways to increase your sales quicker, reduce your business operating costs and increase profit margins for your business, www.shopatzim.co.zw will be an effective way forward for you.The Internet is a powerful platform providing a broad awareness of e-commerce websites. There are millions of people searching the internet daily, looking for products and services. Online shopping is increasing year on year and has since become a convenient method to purchase products, where you can also buy at any time of the day. Here are some benefits that www.

shopatzim.co.zw can offer your business:

1) Lower running costs than an offline business.

The whole sales system for your business is automated online and your business will save on staff wages and other overhead business costs. This money saved can then be used to develop your product range further. Shop@Zim will also help you expand your product offering faster than is normally possible within an offline business situation.

2) Your business can be operated from anywhere

Shop@zim will reduce any geographical restrictions you would ordinarily face with an office-based

Shop@Zim will benefit local exporters

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business. You can be anywhere around the world and still successfully oversee sales in your business. The essential items you need in order to oversee your e-commerce transactions from anywhere are having access to emails, the Internet and phones.

3) Scale-abilityOnline stores are very effective in allowing you to determine which products are selling successfully to ensure the stock levels of these products are increased. Additionally, how these successful products can be diversified to develop a larger range of products to sell through Shop@Zim. This will allow you to grow your business in terms of sales, customer base and profits. Amazon’s online shopping website has developed successfully around scaling their product range and monitoring closely what is selling with customers. This has consequently allowed them to dramatically diversify their product range into many sectors.

4) No opening time restrictionsWith Shop@Zim you do not restrict your potential customers, as they can view your merchandise at any time of day. This means as a business, you are maximising your sales and profits. How can your sales be further maximised? You can do this through a range of sales initiatives such as special offers and online marketing initiatives.

5) More measurable than other sales approaches

You may be thinking how do I know it will be successful, how will I measure the results? E-commerce websites are in fact extremely measurable and trackable. You can view statistics including how many orders are processed through Shop@Zim, average cart total, cart

August 2020

abandonment rate and percentage of total revenue your business has achieved at regular intervals. E-commerce advertising costs are also lower than many other forms of advertising. Search engine optimization will be stronger on Shop@Zim and this will encourage further customers to go on our online store.

6) Less time intensiveWith Shop@Zim, you do not have to invest time into running it. This is because the whole process for customers ordering and making payments will all be activated through the online system. This will give you more time to determine new products you want to sell, special offers you want to launch and to track how successful your sales are. You will also be able to determine any trends in terms of which products are selling most successfully.

Not to be forgotten also are the increase in sales revenues that e-commerce platforms bring. The product visibility that you can gain through Shop@Zim means that your business can attract new customers at any time of the day.

ZimTrade’s online store is open to any business is Zimbabwe that has capacity to export. At present, the store in in preliminary trial stages where companies are registering and commencing to post their adverts on there. To register, please visit https://shopatzim.co.zw/register/ and follow instructions. For support and any inquiries, please send an email to info@zimtrade.co.zw

Registration on Shop@Zim

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This is a first of a kind packaging portal that has been developed by a partnership between Federation of Master Printers and ZimTrade under the European Union-funded COMESA RISM program. The main objective for this platform is to provide solutions to concerns raised in a study conducted in 2016, where it was identified that this sector has an information gap. Consumers and manufacturers alike are lacking access to information that is relevant to this industry. This portal consolidates many issues in the industry including an online directory of local packaging manufacturers, latest global news and standard regulations, issues on conserving the environment and a guide to selecting the appropriate packaging for consumer products. This additional feature incorporates the type of conditions the product will endure on its route to market, the transport, and most importantly the nature of the product which is key in determining the most suitable packaging. This platform will provide a

competitive edge for the local manufacturers as they will receive recognition from the international market and also an opportunity for supply to new consumers, either in the region or internationally. On the portal, the general user will be enabled to find appropriate packaging suppliers; learn more about packaging technologies and the relevant application; obtain information on the standards and regulations in the sector; get insight through news and articles posted on the page; and receive up to date information on the activities in the sector.

The goal of the packaging portal is to create synergies between consumers and manufacturers. The packaging manufacturers can produce packaging according to the needs of the consumers while consumers can input knowledge and information in innovating for new packaging. The packaging consumers hold key information on market requirements for packaging. Some of the basic requirements are convenience in handling, ease in use for the product and efficient disposal which can also include re-use of packaging.

ZimTrade to launch a packaging portal

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August 2020

Zimbabwe, Botswana host online trade mission

Business in Zimbabwe and Botswana recently took part in a virtual trade mission that was meant to discuss and further trade and investment opportunities in the two countries. The virtual trade mission organized by ZimTrade and Botswana Investment and Trade Centre was held from 20-21 August. One of the integral components of the programme were business-to-business meetings were local businesses met counterparts in Botswana, creating synergies for exporting products and importing raw materials. Speaking during the official opening of the virtual trade mission, Botswana Ambassador to Zimbabwe, H.E Louis Fisher said his country and Zimbabwe share a common historical and economic history, which must translate to improved trade. “Botswana and Zimbabwe enjoy a special relationship that can be traced back to the pre-Independence era. “This special relationship which is underpinned by the existing close affinity between the people of Botswana and Zimbabwe has laid a solid foundation for deepening and strengthening of bilateral cooperation between our two countries.

“As developing and landlocked countries, we have both identified economic diversification as one of the tools which we can use to confront our common challenges such as poverty, unemployment and the negative effects of climate change, to name, but a few. “Moreover, Zimbabwe is particularly an interesting market considering its proximity to Botswana, historical ties, political and trade relations with Botswana. Zimbabwe ranks as third largest export market for Botswana products in the SADC region,” said Ambassador Fisher. Speaking during the same event, Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Botswana HE. Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro noted that the current challenges posed by COVID-19 should not deter strengthening of trade relations between the two countries. “Business has to continue despite the challenges presented by COVID-19 on our economies. “The opportunity for matchmaking being provided by this trade promotion mission undoubtedly provides openings for importers and exporters to identify their potential partners and seek markets for their products and services,” said Ambassador Mukonoweshuro. Botswana is one of Zimbabwe’s

traditional trading partners and local companies can take advantage of the proximity between the two countries to land products at a competitive price. Botswana’s Francistown, which is closer to Zimbabwe than the capital Gaborone can be used as an entry into the market. Zimbabwe’s trade with Botswana has in the past three years shown steady growth with Zimbabwe’ exports moving from US$19.2 million in 2017 to US$43.3 million in 2019. A contributing factor to this is the increased effort in nurturing trade between the two countries and continued activities by ZimTrade to identify areas of opportunities for local companies. A market survey conducted by ZimTrade in Botswana in 2019 revealed potential for local businesses to supply an array of products and services to Botswana. These export opportunities are in sectors such as processed foods and fresh produce sectors, agricultural implements and inputs, building material and mining supplies. For example, Zimbabwean companies have potential to export mainly processed foods such as pork products, tinned foods, cereals, milk and milk- based products, cordials, biscuits, and sweets.

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Botswana is also a net importer of fresh produces that local exporters have capacity to supply. Produce such as vegetables, bananas, apples, oranges and pepper can perform well in the Botswana market and local exporters can earn more if they value add their commodities. Although South African companies will be a competitive challenge for local companies that are looking to increase their market share of Botswana, there is potential to supply the retail sector in Botswana as all retailers source both directly from the manufactures as well as through distributors or agents. Local exporters can also leverage on Zimbabwe’s global reputation of a producer of quality products as some local brands are already household brands in Botswana. Batswana regard Zimbabwean products to be of great quality and some buyers who interacted with locally produced products at the Botswana Global Expo held last year indicated willingness to “go Zimbabwe” if local players are able to supply Further to this, Botswana is largely an open market economy, with the business environment being highly facilitative of trade and investment for both local and foreign players.talent is natured in line with international trends. “It is important that we provide land that can be used as art centers, not only so that we can train future art talent, but so that local artists are able to make a living out of what they make. “Currently, most artists survive by smuggling their work, but if we show that we have an interest in their work by establishing such centers then this would go a long way in encouraging them to formalize and grow their businesses,” he said. The export awareness seminar revealed a great deal of enthusiasm to export from the local artists. To further efforts to empower local talent in the arts and crafts sector, ZimTrade is set to launch an online campaign that will market the talent in Zimbabwe to international audiences. The online campaign will run under #ArtsFromTheHeart. The campaign seeks to tell the story behind Zimbabwean crafts, which is expected to grow global interest on Zimbabwe’s pieces.

Traders in Zimbabwe and Botswana will soon enjoy seamless border immigration process once the two countries establish a One-Stop Border Post. The introduction of a One-Stop Border Post (OSBP) between Zimbabwe and Botswana is expected to significantly reduce time taken to clear goods and passengers at the borders. Currently, the Governments of Zimbabwe and Botswana are discussing possibilities of establishing a OSBP at Plumtree/Ramokgwebana entry point. This was revealed by the Ambassador of Zimbabwe to Botswana HE. Batiraishe Mukonoweshuro during a virtual trade mission organised by ZimTrade and Botswana Investment and Trace Centre on 20-21 August. Elaborating on the plan, Ambassador Mukonoweshuro said the planned OSBP, which is in line with Southern African Development Community (SADC) plans, will go a long way in facilitating improved intra-regional trade in southern Africa. “With regards to the issue of trade facilitation, the Governments of Zimbabwe and Botswana are discussing the possibility of establishing a OSBP at Plumtree/Ramokgwebana. “This will enhance trade facilitation and lead to expansion of trade, not only between Zimbabwe

and Botswana but intra-regional trade in goods and services, contributing towards SADC’s regional integration objectives,” he said. Currently, there are two functional OSBPs in SADC, which are; Chirundu border post between Zimbabwe and Zambia, Nakonde-Tunduma border post between Tanzania and Zambia. The third one, Kazungula border post, between Botswana and Zambia is under construction. The first one to be established was the Chirundu OSBP between Zimbabwe and Zambia in 2009. The SADC OSBP initiative was launched in November 2009 in line with the SADC Protocol on Trade signed in 1996, which advocates for the elimination of barriers to trade as well as the easing of customs and transit procedures. Under this scheme, immigration and customs procedures are carried out just once in each direction, in contrast to the situation at most border posts in the region where paperwork must be completed on both sides of the border. More efficient border crossings mean more efficient business as both vehicle and crew can be more productively utilised. The reduced time spent at the border by drivers and goods also reduces the chances of social ills such as corruption, pilferage,

Zimbabwe, Botswana plan One-Stop Border Post

and health risks due to increased risky behaviour opportunities. Equally, accidents from hazardous cargoes are reduced by avoiding parking such vehicles for long hours at border posts.

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Matchmaking international buyers with sellers – the new business norm

ZimTrade is facilitating business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking with international buyers to promote international trade. The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected face-to-face business interactions between buyers and exporters, thus interrupting the traditional business model. Companies are no longer able to send their export representatives across the borders to solicit for orders due to travel restrictions imposed to contain the spread of corona virus. This has posed a great deal of challenges to those companies intending to explore new markets for their products. This calls for a new paradigm shift of doing business if companies want to remain in operations. This means local companies need to explore other new innovative ways to remain in business. ZimTrade, in its quest to ensure the growth of the national exports, has created a platform that saves the exporters’ valuable time and money by identifying prospects that match the exporters’ needs without having to travel to the market. Whether one need to identify the end users, agent/distributors, or other potential partners, ZimTrade can provide you with a list of companies that you can then contact directly to

initiate the business relationships. These lists of foreign companies are derived from a variety of resources, chief among them being the marketing research done annually across the markets and the Trade Promotional Organisations (TPOs) from each country. The company lists include basic contact information including company name, address, telephone number, name of contact person, title, email, brief company description, and company’s website if available. ZimTrade continuously review and verify the information for accuracy purposes. Matchmaking is defined as the process of matching two or more companies together for the purpose of creating a business relationship. This process ensures that the companies that are interested in having exchange of economic value are put in contact with their potential counterparts. The matchmaking services is done to increase an organization’s export sales volumes through matching the companies with high quality leads, making the business process more efficient, signing new deals onsite, obtaining new agencies and representations, establishing a strong presence across the globe and forming new strategic partnerships.

It is important to note that where traditional business models sell products and/or services, matchmaking models sell reduced transaction costs. Exporters are encouraged to engage ZimTrade for assistance in identifying the product distributors for their products to improve their chances of clinching business deals. When the exporters engage ZimTrade for the matchmaking services, ZimTrade will contact or pre-screen the companies on the list to determine if they are interested in your company’s products/services and then proceed to schedule online meetings for you. ZimTrade will help exporters to work only with pre-qualified international partners that are interested in selling their products. ZimTrade is offering the matchmaking services for companies intending to do businesses with countries such as Malawi, Botswana, Zambian, Mozambique and Democratic Republic of Congo. Exporters are therefore encouraged to use the matchmaking services to meet and engage with qualified buyers online in their areas of interest and strengthen their business relationships.

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Food for Export Masterclass trainings begin

The first group of women under Food for Export Masterclass programme were trained from 5-7 August on several issues, including, foundations of exporting, developing the value proposition, packaging, as online and social media marketing. To curb the spread of COVID-19, the meeting was held online. The Food for Export Masterclass (FEM) is a partnership between ZimTrade, Zimbabwe Agricultural Development Trust, Hivos and PUM, designed to build capacity of female entrepreneurs in various aspects of horticulture, dairy production, food processing, and food export business The target is to transform these women-owned agri-food enterprises into successful exporters using the latest production methods and business practices. Currently, 14 women have been selected from a pool of 250 applicants who applied for the FEM programme. The participants are women who own their own businesses and are motivated to see an upscale in their production and to see their products reach different markets. The key objective of the program is to equip these women with skills, knowledge and other resources required to become exporters. The aim is to display their products on shelves around the world.

The women-entrepreneurs operate in different value chains spanning diary production, horticulture, foods processing and apiculture, therefore bringing diversity to the program. This program will offer the opportunity for the entrepreneurs to take notes from each other and impart some feasible knowledge required for better efficiency in the business. The ongoing trainings will encompass dissemination of key information on markets, operational effectiveness, branding, labelling, packaging, resource management, expert knowledge, certification, market analysis and social media

marketing, among other issues. The program is set to be completed by November 2020. The thrust going forward is to work closely with the entrepreneurs to develop their enterprises. Technical interventions with industry experts will be utilized to provide guidance and practical solutions to some of the impediments the entrepreneurs will face. Mentorship, coaching and on-location consulting will also be part of the program. The women-entrepreneurs will benefit from the vast knowledge and experiences that will be exposed through the various partners in the program.

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Following our facilitation for market linkages between local sculptors and German buyers for life-sized recycled metal pieces, we are glad that the first order left Zimbabwe for Germany this month. In March 2020 we facilitated travel by the Germany buyer to Zimbabwe and arranged meetings with local artists. This was the first visit to Zimbabwe by the buyer and he plans to create a long-term supply relationship with local artists.

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188 Sam Nujoma StreetSecond Street Extension Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe+263 (4) 369330-41+263 8677 000 374

48 Josiah Tongogara StreetBulawayoZimbabwe+263 (9) 66151/62378+263 8677 000 378

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ZimTrade Zimbabwe

www.tradezimbabwe.cominfo@zimtrade.co.zw

HEAD OFFICE REGIONAL OFFICE ONLINE

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July 2020

+263 (242) 369330-41+263 8677 000 374

+263 (292) 66151/62378+263 8677 000 378

188 Sam Nujoma StreetSecond Street Extension Avondale, Harare, Zimbabwe+263 (4) 369330-41+263 8677 000 374

48 Josiah Tongogara StreetBulawayoZimbabwe+263 (9) 66151/62378+263 8677 000 378

ZimTradeAlerts

ZimTrade Zimbabwe

www.tradezimbabwe.cominfo@zimtrade.co.zw

HEAD OFFICE REGIONAL OFFICE ONLINE

Get instant access to:

Looking to export?Discover unlimited market information.

Trade Directory | Trade Events | Policies & Regulations | Trade Agreements | Online Market Place | Virtual Library | Online Chat Assistance