Zimbabwe’s Trade Development and Promotion Agency Zimtraded is expected to open up export opportunities for fruits and vegetables in Europe with the participation of local exporters in Macfrut 2021 in Italy.
Macfrut 2021 is the largest fresh trade fair in Italy from September 7-9, with three Zimbabwe exhibitions on display, with many manufacturers sending samples and other promotional materials through ZimTrade.
Zimtrad’s CEO, Allan Aljujuru, said he would discuss the re-engagement efforts under President Manangagwa II in line with the market diversity drive described in Italy’s National Export Strategy.
A.D. The focus on non-traditional markets such as Italy will go a long way in achieving the goal of market pluralism set out in 2019 by President Manangagwa’s National Export Strategy.
“We are confident of the positive results of the government’s economic diplomacy,” he said.
Mr. Majuru went on to say that participating companies: including fruit and vegetable leading enterprises, value-added and agri-technology – are from Italy and the rest of Europe is interested in sourcing from Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s growing fruit and vegetable production is gaining momentum around the world, compared to other African markets.
“The most important thing for the future is to encourage local producers to increase their production to meet the growing global demand for Zimbabwean produce,” he said.
Hazel Masvanhisi, director of Farmbay, one of the companies participating in Mazorur 2021, said the positive feedback from buyers visiting Zimbabwe’s tents was a great potential for the country to export to Italy and beyond. Europe.
“The buyers we received were happy with our offer and we look forward to establishing new links to non-traditional markets around Europe,” Masavaniz said.
Zimbabwe’s vegetable exports to Europe have grown over the years, but exporters have not taken full advantage of the Italian market.
Despite the fact that Italy is the largest importer of horticulture products, Zimbabwe In 2020, it exported an estimated $ 1.2 million worth of fresh produce to the country, mainly for fruits and vegetables.
Italian fruit and vegetable market By 2020, most suppliers from Europe and South America were eligible for $ 7.7 billion in business maps.
Their main imports include Zimbabwe’s citrus, berries, legumes and avocados.
In order to enter the lucrative horticultural market in Italy, Zimtrad has encouraged local exporters to use a temporary economic partnership agreement that gives them free access to the EU market and quotas.
.