AT least 20 companies from Zimbabwe are participating at the Global Expo Botswana (GEB) underway in Gaborone as that nation seeks to boost its export base and solidify its footprint in southern Africa.
GEB is Botswana’s premier international multi-sectoral business-to-business exhibition, managed by the Botswana Investment and Trade Centre on behalf of the government.
The annual expo, which started running yesterday and ends on Saturday, attracted exhibitors and businesspeople from across the region and globally.
The Zimbabwean contingent, co-ordinated by the national trade development and promotion agency ZimTrade, is showcasing products from sectors including processed foods, leather goods, natural oils, agricultural produce and industrial supplies.
The participating companies include Manhambo Investments, Dairibord, Sila Vegetables, African Crown, Viridi Solutions, Thando Timbers, Codchem, Good Hope Leather, Agri Rocket, King’s Leather, Afrostain, Golden Harvest, NobbySnax Pvt Ltd, Kuminda, Gallery Ibasa and Montgomery Processors.
ZimTrade said Botswana’s growing retail and infrastructure sectors offered a ready market for Zimbabwean exporters.
“Adding to this is the influence of the vibrant Zimbabwean diaspora in Botswana, whose affinity for local brands has helped to sustain demand and visibility for both new and legacy Zimbabwean brands,” it said in a statement.
“Zimbabwe’s participation once again signals confidence in regional trade and the shared ambition to see local products move beyond borders: from Gaborone to the rest of Africa.”
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Company representatives shared their enthusiasm and strategic goals for the event.
Misheck Nyawo, the regional sales manager for Codchem, said they wanted to create synergies and expand their market.
“We want to widen our horizon and gather market information,” he said.
“In short, we want to identify new opportunities.”
Matilda Manhambo of Manhambo Investments, showcasing an array of traditional and processed foods such as finger millet and roasted peanuts, weighed in saying: “We also want to showcase what we are able to do. We also want to learn from others so that we improve.”
Montgomery Processors marketing manager Alban Manjengwa said: “I think we are pushing close to 1 200 tonnes to the market within Zimbabwe and there’s a huge, huge appetite.
“Starting with Botswana, we hope to secure some distribution partnerships as well as open conversations with wholesalers, retailers and other traders to get things moving and penetrate the length and breadth of the Botswana market.”
The creative and agricultural sectors are also well-represented.
