Unlocking export potential: Workshop aims to empower youth and women-led MSMEs
Jane Nkiwane
BULAWAYO-In a bid to elevate Zimbabwe’s economic standing and empower local entrepreneurs, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, Community, and Small and Medium Enterprise Development, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), has unveiled a pivotal two-day workshop in Bulawayo.
This Export Readiness Training is specifically designed for youth and women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), focusing on how these businesses can leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and the digital economy.
The initiative is a cornerstone of Zimbabwe’s vision to achieve Upper Middle-Income status by 2030. Aimed at enhancing the global competitiveness of MSMEs, particularly those led by women and young entrepreneurs, the workshop provides essential tools and strategies to navigate and thrive in the expansive African market.
Ethel Bangwayo, Head of the UNDP Prosperity Unit, urged attendees to apply the workshop’s insights to capitalize on AfCFTA opportunities. “This training is a gateway for businesses to scale globally and enhance their operational capabilities,” Bangwayo stated.
Deniss Choguya, a UNDP consultant, addressed the specific hurdles faced by women and youth-led businesses, such as limited access to financing. “The workshop will explore alternative funding sources like credit cooperative societies and introduce digital tools for marketing. These resources are crucial for overcoming barriers to entry in external African markets,” Choguya explained.
ZimTrade, Zimbabwe’s national trade development and promotion organization, reinforced its commitment to assisting local MSMEs with export procedures. They encouraged participants to focus on improving product quality, branding, and packaging to better position themselves in the competitive export market.
The AfCFTA, endorsed by Zimbabwe in 2019, stands as a transformative force, creating the world’s largest free trade area. By uniting the 55 countries of the African Union and eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the agreement aims to streamline the flow of goods and services across the continent, boosting Africa’s global trade prominence.
