Focus on niche products to boost exports

Export growth, for long, has been recognised as the engine and springboard for economic development.

It is solution to the current economic challenges the country is facing. However, the drive towards export growth requires the contribution of all stakeholders, particularly the active participation of all provinces, in line with Government’s devolution drive.

Speaking during the ZimTrade Annual Exporters Conference held in Bulawayo in October, President Emmerson Mnangagwa reiterated the need for all stakeholders to work together in the development of Zimbabwe’s export capacity saying:

“There is urgent need for both the public and private sectors to synergise our efforts and collectively take appropriate steps to boost our country’s exports, which is the most sustainable way to stabilise and grow our economy.”

President Mnangagwa further made a clarion call for all provinces to work with ZimTrade in developing their export business plans based on areas of comparative advantage.

The long-term plan is to make sure that contribution to exports is cascaded to the district level and also making sure that some of the functional irrigation scheme have a 20 percent export component.

ZimTrade, which is also the implementation and coordination organisation for the National Export Strategy, will work with provincial Affairs Ministries in inculcating the culture of exporting among businesses in their provinces.

The development of export strategies at provincial level requires that provinces specialise in production of specific products that have a comparative advantage, riding upon product experience, ecological endowments and established infrastructure.

This dovetails with the devolution agenda that recognises every province as unique and that it should drive its own economic agenda to ensure full participation in the national export drive.

Provinces can tap into or increase their competitiveness by focusing on niche products or services.

Manicaland

The province is renowned for its production of horticultural products and timber. It rides on its ecological and climatic advantages to produce a wide range of products for the export market.

Currently, the global value for the trade of fruits and nuts exceeds US$ 134 billion per year and there is room for the province to grow its exports by tapping into this market.

Most parts of the province are in high altitude, which is critical for macadamia nuts production, whose global export value in 2018 was US$ 843 million, according to Trade Map.

The province can also synergise production of fruits and nuts with timber, tea and coffee production so that it can increase the exports from the province.

There is also potential in the growth of avocados, which are on high demand in Europe

Masvingo

The province, buoyed by the mighty Tugwi-Mukosi confluence, which can be used to irrigate Chiredzi, Mwenezi and Chivi districts, has comparative advantage in exporting sugar and sugar related products.

Masvingo province can play an important role in increasing sugar’s contribution to growth of national exports.

The province also houses a significant beef herd and there are synergies that can be derived from sugar cane production and stock feeds for beef production.

It also boasts of vast water bodies where fish farming can be done at a large scale.

Mashonaland East

Farmers and businesses in Mashonaland East have a potential to increase their exports by tapping into horticulture, floriculture and dried fruits.

The global value for cut flowers is over US$ 21 billion and the province can help increase Zimbabwe’s throughput of the commodity.

There is scope to export vegetables from Mashonaland East province to countries in the region such as Angola, Botswana and Namibia, among others.

Mashonaland Central

Historically, the province used to produce most of the oranges consumed in the country, supplying the cordial value chain.

The province can also export high value fresh vegetables. Globally, the vegetable market is in excess of US$ 71 billion.

For local market, the province can also play a significant role in import substitution especially in maize and soya beans.

Mashonaland West

The green belt of the country can assist Zimbabwe cut its cost of importation of grain and oil seeds.

The province can also produce horticultural and floriculture products.

Other unique exports from the region will include crocodile skins and fish farming.

Midlands

There is potential in Midlands to increase exports of cotton, textile and chillies The province can also leverage on its hot districts to produce citrus products that can feed into the local export value chain for cordials.

There is further room to increase exports of value-added cotton and clothing into countries in the region such as Zambia.

Further, Midlands province has vast mineral resources and can be developed into a strong industry for exports of value-added iron and steel.

Matabeleland South

Businesses in Matabeleland South can ride on the vast citrus production in Beitbridge. The province also possess the second biggest beef herd.

The beef industry can also be developed into a strong exporter of milk and milk products. Currently, Zimbabwean milk is receiving good response in countries such as Malawi.

The province also produces mopane worms, which is a delicacy and superfood, with a growing demand across the world.

Matabeleland North

The province is renowned for its tourism and can ride on the huge volume of tourists to export arts and craft products. It can export its hard-indigenous timber after value addition and tap into the global export value of indigenous timber which stood at

US$ 156 billion in 2018.

Bulawayo

The engineering hub of the country can ride on its historical production of steel products to increase exports.

The province can also export leather and related products as well as clothing or textiles products.

As the engineering hub, there is potential to increase exports of engineering services to countries such as Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Zambia and DRC.

Harare

The capital can leverage on existing infrastructure to retool and increase production of processed foods and fast-moving goods for the export market.

There is also potential to increase contribution of clothing and textile products to Zimbabwe’s exports.

The province can also produce fresh produce.