Zimbabwe is making notable strides in expanding its exports to Mozambique, as evidenced by the steady stream of prospective buyers visiting local firms’ exhibition stands at the 2025 Mozambique Agriculture, Commercial and Industrial Fair (FACIM) in Maputo. The annual event, one of Southern Africa’s largest multi-sectoral exhibitions, provided a platform for Zimbabwean businesses to showcase their products, explore potential deals, and strengthen trade partnerships with Mozambican counterparts.
The national trade promotion body, ZimTrade, facilitated the participation of over 14 companies, ranging from large-scale enterprises to small and medium-sized firms. Represented sectors included manufacturing, agro-processing, agriculture, leather and footwear, engineering, health and wellness, insurance, and industrial gases. Among the participating firms were car battery manufacturer Chloride Exide, the National Railways of Zimbabwe (NRZ), piping systems producer Proplastics, handcrafted goods maker Golden Hands Leather Products, medical gases company Verify Engineering, and leather safety footwear and garments producer Triple Tee. Other participants included handicrafts supplier Tsisam Trading, life assurance provider Nyaradzo Zimbabwe, engineering components distributor PowerDrive, agricultural enterprise Avomac Farm Abattoir and Butchery, agro-processing firm Niallah Foods, wellness brand House of Moringa, and leather manufacturer Samuneti Leathers.
The fair, which ran from August 25 to 31, is viewed as a key avenue for Zimbabwean firms to deepen their presence in Mozambique, an increasingly important trade partner. This year’s FACIM builds on earlier trade facilitation programs organized by ZimTrade, including the Beira Outward Mission, which allowed Zimbabwean firms to directly engage with Mozambican distributors and wholesalers.
Throughout the fair, potential buyers showed keen interest in Zimbabwean products, which have earned a reputation in Mozambique for high quality and competitive pricing. Exhibitors expressed optimism that the inquiries would translate into concrete trade deals and partnerships.
NRZ spokesperson Andrew Kunambura explained that the State-owned rail operator attended FACIM to explore business opportunities, scout the Mozambican market, and attract investors. “We are here to engage various stakeholders. NRZ is looking to recapitalize and expand capacity, and we are also seeking investment,” he said. The rail operator’s recapitalization is critical, as a previous $400 million funding plan failed in 2018. New investment is needed to address aging infrastructure, including locomotives and wagons, and to fund refurbishment and new equipment purchases.
Kunambura added that FACIM offered a platform to engage companies in strategic partnerships, particularly those with financial capacity to hire wagons, provide funding, or support Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiatives aimed at modernizing the railways. “We have met serious prospects, including engineering and IT firms, as well as potential cargo customers. We believe following up on these leads will yield breakthroughs for NRZ,” he said.
Other exhibitors also reported positive interactions. Hilary Hilman of Legacy Logistics, representing Triple Tee Safety in Mozambique, noted strong interest in the firm’s products due to their quality and affordability. “We are having a good interaction with many companies, and the response has been overwhelmingly positive,” he said.
Zimbabwe firms seek new deals at Mozambique trade fair
Similarly, Exide Express country manager Lloyd Machinga described FACIM as an exciting opportunity to engage new and existing customers. “We have explored opportunities to expand into sectors like solar, which we had not fully serviced before. ZimTrade has been instrumental in facilitating our participation,” he said. House of Moringa founder Tarie Chirewa echoed the sentiment, describing the reception from Mozambican buyers as “amazing” and emphasizing the exhibition’s role in securing distributors and partnerships for brand growth.
ZimTrade Export Promotion Manager Vuyiswa Mafu highlighted that FACIM provided a valuable platform for generating leads and growing Zimbabwe’s export markets. “This exhibition is an ideal venue for Zimbabwean companies, especially as we aim to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and explore markets beyond Maputo,” she said.
The trade promotion efforts align with Zimbabwe’s National Export Strategy, which aims to increase exports from $4.5 billion in 2018 to $14 billion by 2030, supporting the country’s Vision 2030 goal of achieving upper-middle-income status. Under the Second Republic, the government emphasizes export-led growth, foreign investment attraction, and value addition. Complementing this is the Heritage-Based Education 5.0 philosophy, which integrates traditional knowledge with modern technologies, such as artificial intelligence, to produce graduates capable of driving local and global production.
Beyond trade, Zimbabwe and Mozambique share historically cordial relations dating back to the pre-independence era. President Mnangagwa’s economic diplomacy seeks to strengthen these ties while cultivating new partnerships, ensuring that trade with neighboring Mozambique continues to grow and diversify in the coming years.
Source- Herald
