According to the industry experts, Dubai is seeing growing interest from Zimbabwean agribusiness firms that are eager to utilize the emirate as a strategic hub for enhance trade.
The virtual forum, organized by Dubai Chamber’s representative office in Mozambique in collaboration with DEAT Capital, DP World, and Dubai Exports, explored current trade synergies between the UAE and Zimbabwe and identified high-potential bilateral business opportunities in the agribusiness field.
The webinar was attended by a total of 535 participants from 44 nations, including food traders and representatives from the value chain and logistics companies, agricultural producers, financial institutions, manufacturers, insurance and risk providers, export credit insurance agencies, business parks, and special economic zones.
Zimbabwe’s Minister of Lands, Agriculture, Water, and Rural Resettlement, Dr. Anxious Masuka has expressed the dedication of his government to collaborating with the UAE to explore and cultivate win-win opportunities, taking particular account of Zimbabwe’s accelerated agricultural transformation.
Dr. Masuka commented that Zimbabwe remains stable in its drive to re-engage with the rest of the world to expand its exports and eventually realize its 2030 Vision.
Majid Saif Al Ghurair, Chairman of Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, indicated that the Chamber arranged this webinar in response to increasing interest from Zimbabwean public and private sector stakeholders who are eager to do business with their UAE counterparts. He further emphasized the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051 as a perfect opportunity to combine their efforts and gain mutual benefits for companies in both countries.
Mr. Al Ghurair revealed that Dubai accounts for most of the UAE’s trade with Zimbabwe, and the emirate’s non-oil trade with the African nation has increased from $490 million in 2011 to $939 million in 2019, adding that there is still plenty of space to broaden the reach of bilateral trade and investment.
Omar Khan, Director of International Offices at Dubai Chamber, commented about the key role played by the representative offices of the organization in Africa in finding attractive business opportunities and facilitating the entry of African businesses into the Dubai market.
Furthermore, he called the Zimbabwean businesses to utilize the vast competitive advantages of the emirate to their benefit as they aim to extend their global scope. Dubai businesses can provide their Zimbabwean counterparts with valuable expertise and help with communication, promotion, marketing, training, manufacturing, cold chain solutions, and warehousing, concluded Mr. Khan.
