Zimbabwe Seeks to Increase SMEs’ Access to Chinese Market

Zimbabwe is intensifying efforts to help SMEs access the Chinese market, focusing on heritage products, fruit export protocols, trade fairs like CIIE and capacity building (image source)

Zimbabwe’s government has made expanding market access for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) into China a clear priority, Minister Monica Mutsvangwa told Xinhua on the sidelines of the SMEs International Expo in Harare, where she urged exporters to leverage existing bilateral ties and trade platforms to reach Chinese buyers. The minister singled out heritage products and cultural artefacts — notably indigenous stone and wood sculptures — as goods with strong potential in China, and said the state would work to link producers with industry partners and buyers to scale up exports.

Agricultural produce is already emerging as a tangible route into the Chinese market. Recent developments include protocols that have opened the door for Zimbabwean fruit exports, and industry bodies are preparing to scale production to meet demand. Blueberry growers, for example, are targeting China after an export protocol was agreed, with the Horticultural Development Council projecting growth from 8,000 tonnes in 2024 to 12,000 tonnes in 2025 — a 50% increase as producers gear up for new market opportunities. That kind of expansion illustrates how targeted market access can translate into rapid production and export growth for well-prepared value chains.

Government and trade-promotion agencies are also encouraging SMEs to use international platforms to raise their profile. Zimbabwean firms have been urged to expand their footprint at events such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and other trade fairs, which provide direct exposure to Chinese buyers and distributors and can accelerate commercial partnerships and contract wins. Officials say participation in such expos, combined with trade missions and buyer-seller forums, will be central to a practical market-entry strategy for smaller exporters. To attract and sustain Chinese demand, Zimbabwean authorities are promising a more facilitative business environment. Agencies including the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) and other ministries have been involved in roundtables and pledges to streamline approvals, improve logistics and offer incentives to investors and exporters — part of a broader push to make the country more attractive to Chinese capital and trade partnerships. Officials stress that policy coherence, transparent regulation and predictable trade procedures are prerequisites for long-term market relationships.

Practical barriers remain and the government recognises the need for capacity building. SMEs must meet sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS) standards, upgrade packaging and quality control, and access finance and digital skills to manage cross-border sales and e-commerce channels. Trade-promotion materials and outreach — including explainer videos and training modules on export readiness and digital marketing — are being rolled out to help firms bridge those gaps and present competitive offers to Chinese buyers. Analysts stress that if Zimbabwe can combine targeted capacity building, export protocols and active participation in trade platforms, the payoff could be significant: new jobs, higher foreign-exchange earnings and stronger value chains that move artisanal and agricultural producers from local markets to global buyers.