And with this workshop, we are capacitating them, telling them what the African Continental Free Trade Area is all about, and finding out their needs for trading across borders,” she said.“We want our SMEs not only to feed corporate companies in Zimbabwe but also to feed corporate companies in Africa.“This workshop is more than just a gathering; it is a transformative platform to shape a new era of growth, prosperity, and opportunity for every Zimbabwean.”The workshop, which ends today, is designed to address key barriers affecting SMEs, including access to finance, logistics, non-tariff barriers, and limited knowledge of trade rules.It will also explore opportunities in digital trade under the recently adopted AfCFTA protocols.She added that the initiative was not meant to be a once-off event but part of a long-term programme to empower SMEs for sustainable growth.“Our intention is not just to do a once-off training. It’s to have this workshop, build their capacity, but then also follow up with other interventions. We also like to keep track of how they have benefited from a workshop like this,” she said.The Minister added that the training programme is not limited to Harare, as similar sessions will be rolled out across the country.The AfCFTA, which brings together 54 African countries into a single market of 1.3 billion people, is expected to boost intra-African trade by reducing tariffs and addressing barriers to cross-border business.Meanwhile, United Nations Economic Commission for Africa Sub-regional Office for Southern Africa representative Zodwa Mabuza says her organisation seeks to nurture and instill business best practices amongst SMEs in Zimbabwe to help them enhance their operations.She stressed that while large corporates had historically dominated preferential trade arrangements, the AfCFTA would only achieve its true potential through the active participation of SMEs, women, and youth.“SMEs are the very engine that will power inclusive growth, job creation, and resilience across the continent,” she said.She outlined the key objectives of the two-day workshop, including building SME knowledge of AfCFTA protocols such as rules of origin, enhancing market access, addressing non-tariff barriers and customs procedures, and embracing digital trade through the Agreement’s new protocols.Ms Mabuza called on governments and regional blocs to invest in supportive infrastructure, efficient one-stop border posts, and simplified customs processes, noting that addressing non-tariff barriers could boost intra-African trade by up to 50 percent.“SMEs already contribute over 60 percent of employment and a significant share of Zimbabwe’s economic output.
For this reason, SMEs are well-positioned to take advantage of cross-border trade opportunities,” she said.For Zimbabwe, where SMEs account for a significant portion of employment and economic activity, integration into the continental market is seen as key to driving industrialisation and job creation.Zimbabwe, alongside other African nations, is seeking to harness the AfCFTA to boost industrialisation, create jobs, and open wider markets for local enterprises.The aim of the workshops is to unlock opportunities for Small and Medium Enterprises in Zimbabwe under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Women’s Affairs, Community, and Small and Medium Enterprises Development Minister, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa, has underscored the importance of financially empowering SMEs in order for them to grow their businesses and tap into Africa’s vast opportunities. In an interview with Zimpapers Radio News on the sidelines of the ongoing United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) workshop in Harare today, Minister Mutsvangwa said the focus is now on assisting SMEs to venture into the export market.
“Well, we want to know what they are doing. And with this workshop, we are capacitating them, telling them what the African Continental Free Trade Area is all about, and finding out their needs for trading across borders,” she said. “We want our SMEs not only to feed corporate companies in Zimbabwe but also to feed corporate companies in Africa.
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“This workshop is more than just a gathering; it is a transformative platform to shape a new era of growth, prosperity, and opportunity for every Zimbabwean.” The workshop, which ends today, is designed to address key barriers affecting SMEs, including access to finance, logistics, non-tariff barriers, and limited knowledge of trade rules. It will also explore opportunities in digital trade under the recently adopted AfCFTA protocols. She added that the initiative was not meant to be a once-off event but part of a long-term programme to empower SMEs for sustainable growth.
“Our intention is not just to do a once-off training. We also like to keep track of how they have benefited from a workshop like this,” she said. The Minister added that the training programme is not limited to Harare, as similar sessions will be rolled out across the country. The AfCFTA, which brings together 54 African countries into a single market of 1.3 billion people, is expected to boost intra-African trade by reducing tariffs and addressing barriers to cross-border business.
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