New Farmers Have Potential to Expand Export Base in Zimbabwe

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Wednesday, October 09, 2002

New Farmers Have Potential to Expand Export Base in Zimbabwe

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The Chief Executive of Zimbabwe Trade Freddy Chawasarira said Tuesday in Harare that the government's land reform program has ushered in new players in the country's agricultural sector, a development that has potential to expand Zimbabwe's export base.

Addressing delegates at the 2002 Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries in Harare, Chawasarira said that the new farmers need to be quickly integrated into the mainstream economy to ensure ready export markets for their produce.

"The ongoing transformation of the economy through the inclusion of new players in the agricultural sector has the potential to expand Zimbabwe's export base," Chawasarira said.

"The new players in agriculture have to be quickly integrated into the mainstream, thus ensuring that export markets for our agricultural produce are retained and linkages with local manufacturing industries not only maintained but also increases," he said.

Chawasarira said the strategy would ensure export of value added goods and services.

Chawasarira said a new export development paradigm shift that reflects and takes into account these developments together with the thrust of promoting the country's agricultural industrial base has to come aboard.

He said the fundamental challenge facing the nation was to formulate a national development approach that enhanced foreign currency inflows in order to meet the country's import requirements.

The government was importing fuel, electricity and food among other essential needs.

Chawasarira said a national strategy on export development would provide a platform for economic growth and the achievement of other key goals such as employment creation, raising of household incomes, and poverty alleviation.

But for these goals to be achieved, he said it was essential that the country adopted an outward looking stance, predicting its growth on the development of external; markets and the increased inflows of foreign direct investment.

He said economic parameters such as interest rates and import tariffs should be supportive of the drive to enhance the country's international competitiveness. The country, Chawasarira said, should also strive to upgrade its manufacturing capacity and to make maximum use of modern technology to increase productivity and raise standards.

He added that the government should continue to foster bilateral relations and negotiate preferential financial, trade and technical agreements while also developing new markets.

The two-day congress was held under the theme "Overcoming the Crisis" and it ended on Tuesday with business people agreeing on the need for urgent measures to be taken and for greater co-operation between the business sector and the government to revive the country's struggling economy.

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