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Oliver Kazunga Senior Business Reporter
LOCAL companies should cast their nets wide and tap the expanded market share in the region and abroad given the opening up of export opportunities, an official has said.

The call follows presentation of Zambian market research findings on Friday by Zimbabwe’s national export promotion agency, ZimTrade which unmasked vast trade opportunities for local firms.

The findings cement the recent launch of the Zimbabwe-Europe Business Information Centre (Zim-EBIC) in Harare and Bulawayo.

Zim-EBIC is an information hotspot meant to assist Zimbabwean businesses to easily and conveniently access information about trade with the European Union and thus enhancing Zimbabwe’s exports.

The trade breakthroughs have been buttressed by the grand regional Tripartite Free Trade Area (FTA) linking the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, East African Community and the Southern African Development Community (Sadc).

In an interview after the launch of the Zambia market research findings, ZimTrade chief executive officer Sithembile Pilime, said the challenge was now on companies to take advantage of the vast export opportunities in Sadc and Comesa.

“Let’s take advantage of the opportunities in Zambia, Sadc and Comesa to boost our exports earnings,” she said.

Pilime said following the launch of the Zim-EBIC, a number of companies had visited their offices to seek advice on how they can access information available at the centres.

“Zimbabwean goods are on demand in Zambia and across the world because the products are of high quality. So local companies should take advantage of the existing opportunities in the wide export market,” she said.

Pilime said ZimTrade would soon undertake market research in Tanzania, Kenya, northern Namibia and Angola to gather market intelligence for local businesses to identify further opportunities as they arise.

Earlier on Pilime told the gathering that ZimTrade aims to enhance the growth of exports in Zimbabwe.

“In this regard, we’re continually reviewing and improving our product and service portfolio in order to better serve you (businesses).

“Our trade information centre has been revamped in order to strengthen our capacity to deliver up to date market intelligence.

“Exporters and importers alike can now access information to assist them to make informed business decisions,” she said.

“I’m informed by the research that Zambia abounds with opportunities for trade in goods and services as well as investments in sectors such as construction, mining, manufacturing and agro-industry.”

Pilime said the Zambian market research findings would also go a long way in assisting local companies to participate at the forthcoming Zambia Agricultural and Commercial Show set for July 29 to August 3.