Opinion / Columnist
ZIM-EBIC launch in Bulawayo a welcome development
17 Jun 2015 at 15:57hrs | Views
The official launch of Zimbabwe European Business Information Centre (ZIM-EBIC) in Bulawayo is a welcome development which should be cherished as it fits into the dictates of ZIM-ASSET. The local business community is challenged to utilize ZIM-EBIC to enhance the competitiveness of the local exports and improve trade ties with their European Union (EU) counterparts.
This should be viewed as the positive move poised to normalize relations between Zimbabwean and the European Union after over a decade of illegal sanctions which impacted negatively on the local economy. It is hoped that the European Union will swallow its pride and help the nation to recapitalize its industry which was crippled owing to the frosty relations.
ZIM-EBIC is aimed at increasing capacity of Zimbabwean business operators to establish mutually beneficial ties with their EU counterparts in making business transactions. Local small to medium enterprises are urged to make use of the facility in accessing EU markets competitively and to seize opportunities arising from the interim economic partnership agreement with the EU; as well as to assist SMEs by providing intelligence to access EU markets.
ZIM-EBIC will build the capacity of Zimbabwean trade support institutions to interface with data and create opportunities which will promote their business ventures. ZIM-EBIC is being funded by the EU under the 3 million euro trade and private sector development programme which was initiated in February 2014.
It is everyone's hope that the establishment of this information centre is in line with Zimbabwe-EU re-engagement efforts. No strings should be attached to this deal as it is purely for business purposes. In this venture both parties are poised to benefit on an equal footing provided they exploit the opportunities properly.
Local producers, particularly those in the agricultural sector, are urged to embrace this wonderful opportunity so that they benefit immensely, bearing in mind that locally produced foods are popular for their originality as they are free from Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs) which are infamous for being sources of cancer which is pandemic and is wrecking havoc across the entire globe.
Source - Suitable Kajau
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