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Miss Sithembile Pilime

Business Reporter
LOCAL companies and businesses have been challenged to take advantage of investment opportunities in northern Mozambique which is experiencing a construction boom.Speaking at a breakfast seminar in Bulawayo last week, ZimTrade chief executive officer Miss Sithembile Pilime encouraged local businesses to exploit opportunities available in Mozambique.

She said there are lot opportunities in Nampula Province because of the developments which are taking place.
“These developments include the Nacala Corridor, the new Nacala Airport and the expansion of the Nacala Deep Sea Port. Therefore there are opportunities for our engineering, construction and electrical sectors among others,” she said.

Miss Pilime urged businesses to take such opportunies to establish themselves in these markets. She said companies could form joint ventures or enter into partnerships to raise capital so that it becomes easy to penetrate the market.

“Buyers look at their overheads and they prefer to work with companies that are consistent. We need to work together so that we penetrate into the market, do not go there as an individual and if you discover new opportunities, share them with others,” said Miss Pilime.

Speaking at the same seminar, Mr Malvin Rusike of Africa Corporate Advisors said there was a need for a paradigm shift in the local business sector and businesses should work on improving their corporate image.

“Zimbabwean companies are considered as unreliable by the Mozambican market particularly when it comes to supply.  There is need for those who want to venture into that market to establish warehouses which will ensure they always have  stock at hand to meet supply demands”  he said.

Mr Rusike said there were many opportunities in Northern Mozambique because the country imported most of its products. He said countries such as Brazil, South Africa, India, China and United States of America, had taken the opportunity to supply Mozambique with goods but Zimbabwe was failing to take advantage of its proximity to Mozambique.

“As Zimbabweans, we should stop always being second fiddle, get into those markets and supply your products and services, how can the South Africans be ahead of us when we are just next to the markets,”  he said.

Mr Rusike said as much as opportunities were available for exporters, companies should be world class because they were competing with international exporters.

“If you want to make it in the Mozambican market, you have to be world class, be competent enough and be time                            conscious.”