ZimTrade identifies Tanzania market

ZIMTRADE has identified Tanzania as a potential market for Zimbabwe’s products and findings on a market survey done in April about the country will be availed at the end of this month.

According to Trade Map, Zimbabwe contributes less than one percent to Tanzania’s $9,7 billion import bill.

ZimTrade chief executive officer Ms Sithembile Pilime said it was important for local suppliers to take advantage of Tanzania’s sustained boom and establish it as a key export market.

The Tanzanian economy has been on an upward trend, and since 2006, economic growth has averaged 6,7 percent per annum.

“Market opportunities for local products and services in sectors such as pharmaceuticals, agricultural implements and inputs, irrigation development, construction and engineering services, safari clothing, leather and footwear were identified during the survey conducted in April.

We will be disseminating findings of the Tanzania market survey on 30 June and 1 July in Harare and Bulawayo respectively,” said Ms Pilime.

She said the market related intelligence gathered during the survey will enhance the prospects of market penetration for local products. Ms Pilime urged local producers to widen their export markets and make use of specific information availed to them by ZimTrade.

Tanzania’s import bill for 2015 stood at $9,7 billion, with China being the largest supplier, contributing 44 percent while regionally, South Africa has a 5,6 percent share and Zimbabwe contributes less than 1 percent, according to Trade Map.

In 2015, 79 percent of Zimbabwe’s exports to Tanzania were construction and mining equipment, with the remaining 21 percent being mainly clothing and textiles, paper and printing services, as well as tobacco.

Recently, Air Zimbabwe resumed flights to Dar es Salaam, Tanzania in response to customer demand, according to the airline.

Air Zimbabwe said the route had huge potential as there is a lot of business going on between the two countries and said customers had been requesting the airline to resume services to boost trade and commerce.

The Harare-Dar es Salaam route was previously plied by the national carriers of the two countries, but both pulled out due to operational difficulties making it difficult for customers from the two countries to connect, having to resort to indirect flights which went through Kenya which was more expensive.