Women urged to take advantage of bilateral trade

Nhlalwenhle Ngwenya, Business Correspondent
BUSINESS women have been urged to take advantage of several bilateral trade agreements that Zimbabwe has with other countries to increase their markets through exports.

Speaking on the sidelines of an export awareness seminar in Bulawayo recently which was facilitated by ZimTrade, Women’s Alliance of Business Associations in Zimbabwe vice chairperson Mrs Judith Mizha said local women needed to expose their products to other countries.

“As Wabaz we are working with development partners to help women with adequate knowledge to help them upgrade their businesses. In this seminar we are working with ZimTrade to facilitate exports for women in other countries to have the exposure to the outside market.

“As you know, we have trade agreements that also allow women to sell their products to countries like Botswana, South Africa, and Namibia and everywhere around the world. They must just take advantage of those trade agreements in order for them to penetrate the foreign markets,” she said.

Wabaz which is a coalition of women in business associations in Zimbabwe was formed by nine women in Business Associations in August 2011 under the auspices of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC).

The number of women business associations has grown to 27, representing approximately 16 000 individual informal and formal women entrepreneurs.

Last month, Turkey and Zimbabwe signed a memorandum of understanding aimed at deepening bilateral trade and investment relations for mutual cooperation between the two countries.

Mrs Mizha added that women must work together and share ideas for their businesses to be viable. She said the main objective of the seminar was to conscientise women in business to venture into exports market vigorously since ZimTrade was the country’s national export promotion and trade development agency.