Tinashe Makichi : Business Reporter
Zimbabwe realised about $54 million from exports of horticultural products to the European Union in 2015 which is an increase from $49 million recorded in 2014, according to figures availed by ZimTrade. Zimbabwe’s major export destinations in the EU were United Kingdom, Netherlands, Lithuania, Spain, Portugal, France and Germany.Netherlands came out top as Zimbabwe’s major export destination during the year sitting at $35 million while the United Kingdom was second at $12 million.
In order to promote further exports into Netherlands, Zimbabwe and a Netherlands organisation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to support agriculture and revive the horticultural sector in Zimbabwe and help revive Zimbabwe’s exports to the European market which in the last five years, have remained subdued.
Speaking during the signing of agreement, ZimTrade Board Chairman Lance Jena said the MoU targeted the horticultural sector; a sector of quick returns which reached its peak in 1999 /2000 with exports of $143 million.
ZimTrade chief executive Sithembile Pilime said horticultural exports to the European have not been pleasing compared to 1999 when the sector reached its peak.
“Our performance with regards to exports to the EU has not been pleasing but measures to boost capacity of local producers are being undertaken. Zimbabwe used to export major products to the EU but due to the closure and change of ownership of some companies, our exports on major products took a nose dive.
“The range of products to be exported is key. We used to export value added products like clothes, footwear, leather and furniture. The horticulture sector in particular performed very well since 2012 but it is worrisome that most of our exports to the EU are just raw materials,” said Mrs Pilime.
Zimbabwe’s horticultural industry has been on a rebound since 2010 following successive years of recession, which started at the turn of the millennium. Air cargo exports have been rising since 2012 mainly driven by vegetables and flowers.
The country used to be one of the largest exporters of a wide range of horticultural products in Africa, supplying overseas markets including Europe and the Middle East. For instance, citrus exports peaked in 2001 at 45 000 tonnes, being 60 percent of fresh produce output.
Zimbabwe also became a valuable exporter of cut flowers, and by 2001, it was ranked as the second largest in Africa, behind Kenya and was the fifth biggest exporter to the EU.
PUM Netherlands senior experts is a non-profit organisation, which links businesses in developing countries to Dutch professionals. These professionals’ mostly senior experts execute short-term, solid consultancy projects on the work floor and provide businesses with the required knowledge and experience.
UM has a network comprising some 3,200 volunteers in 80 sectors of industry. The experts consult in almost every field imaginable and adopt a business-like approach, focusing as objectively as possible on the improvement of business management.
Mr Jena said the timing of PUM intervention is appropriate as it will assist Zimbabwe in repositioning itself as a horticulture products exporting giant.
“The timing of the PUM intervention is very appropriate to ZimTrade and Zimbabwe as we actively chart a way forward for the development and promotion of exports. This partnership being solemnised today will positively contribute towards addressing challenges that are prevalent within the horticultural value chain.”
PUM Country Coordinator Zimbabwe, Frans Gosses said PUM was willing to build the capacity of small to medium sized entrepreneurs to boost production.