Dubai export market can be grabbed, consolidated

18 May, 2021 - 21:05 0 Views
Dubai export market can be grabbed, consolidated Zimbabwe exporting farmer John Mapondera (right) making his case as a potential exporter to Ali Gholami's (Dubai) Import Manager Shihad Aboobacker (Left). Looking on (centre) is Zimtrade's regional development officer for the Eastern Region Admire Jongwe.

eBusiness Weekly

Business Writer

Zimbabwean farmers and companies that are looking to export to Dubai and other Gulf Corporation Council countries will have to maintain their presents in the market if they going to make a meaningful impact, according to Zimtrade operations director Similo Nkala.

At least 10 Zimbabwean companies from the horticulture, leather and tobacco sector are currently participating at the Zimtrade organised outward seller mission in Dubai.

The mission has seen the Zimbabwe outward sellers meet up with potential buyers of their products and produce.

Some of the buyers that were engaged are among Dubai’s leading importers and distributors of fruit and vegetables.

These include Barakat, which counts itself as a leading supplier of a diverse spectrum of fresh produce to 5 Star establishments and Ali Gholami which counts itself as a leading supplier to top tier hotels. Many other companies were also engaged in addition to these two.

According to Similo, local companies are now alive to the potential that the Dubai market can offer.

However what is key is for the companies to continue to interface with the market and not make it a once off thing.

The advice that we were given by the Office of the Sheikh Ahmed Bin Faisal Al Qassimi and Dubai Exports is that we should not end here but we should have more of these missions and these interface meetings with buyers.

“They wouldn’t want someone that they see once then disappear for two years, so the key thing is to maintain our presents in this market,” Similo said.

Zimtrade is already working on bringing the leather sector for the Gifts and Lifestyle event in December this year and probably the Gulf Food Fair in February next year.
Similo said Dubai also comes as a gateway to countries like Saudi Arabia that might turn out to be huge export markets for Zimbabwean products and produce.

Ali Gholami Import Manager Shihad Aboobacker said his company is keen on getting supplies from Zimbabwe and would consider visiting the country to explore opportunities.

“We already have a desire for Zimbabwean supplies.”

Commenting on the mission, Varie Madziva from Eden  Chase Group of farmers said engagements with Dubai based companies had showed much potential to do business.

“Honestly speaking the mission has been fruitful to me, we are spoilt for choice now after meeting about five buyers,” Madziva said.

“So far we have secured orders for berries and baby marrows so we already have work to do, before we even get back.”

She however said to make an impact, Zimbabwe farmer exporters will have to work together.

Eden Chase is a group of 15 farmers with a total farm area of 800 hectares producing various export oriented products such as peas, blue and black berries among others.
The outward seller mission comes to an end today with a few more visits to potential buyers.

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