Zim-EU Business Information Centre to be inaugurated in Bulawayo

The Zimbabwe-European Business Information Centre (Zim-EBIC) will be jointly inaugurated in Bulawayo on 15 April 2015 by the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Hon Mike Bimha and the Head of the European Union Delegation in Zimbabwe, Ambassador Philippe Van Damme.
 
Zim-EBIC aims at increasing the capacity of Zimbabwean exporters (existing and potential) to the EU to establish mutually beneficial linkages with their European counterparts.
 
The platform will also enhance knowledge sharing on thematic areas such as: EU Market Intelligence; EU Trade Fairs; ESA-EU interim Economic Partnership Agreement (ESA-iEPA); GSP; Tariffs; NTBs; and opportunistic use of Experts from EU Member States as well as experienced Zimbabwean entrepreneurs (peer-to-peer coaching).
 
The initiative is part of the EUR 3 million European Union's support to Trade and Private Sector Development Project (TPSDP), which is being implemented by the International Trade Centre (ITC).
 
Similar to the Zim-EBIC set up in Harare, which was launched in August last year, the information Centre in Bulawayo will be housed within ZimTrade's Regional Office. It will form an integral part of the Trade Information Centre to benefit companies within the Matabeleland and Midlands Region.
 
Captains of Industry and policy makers based in Bulawayo are expected to grace this occasion. Mr. Marcos Vaena, the Chief Enterprise Competitiveness Section for the ITC will be part of the Delegation at this occasion.
 
ZimTrade Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Sithembile Pilime, expressed her appreciation to the European Union and underscored that the development is expected to place ZimTrade in a strong position to enhance service delivery as well as provide market intelligence to its clients.
 
Since the inaugural launch of the Zim-EBIC last year, the monthly usage of the Centre has increased by more than 100% as more companies are appreciating the improved quality of services. Furthermore, on-site demonstrations have been conducted to coach business people and policy makers on how to utilise the Centre's resources effectively.
 
 ZimTrade envisages this initiative to reposition and strengthen its role as the national trade development and export promotion entity that provides a high quality, client needs-driven trade information to the Zimbabwean export sector, among other services.