Zimbabwe and Zambia are today hosting a high-level Business Forum at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Harare. The engagement has attracted participants from key sectors including agriculture, mining, manufacturing, construction, energy, services, agro-processing, as well as Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), hardware wholesalers, and retailers.
The Zimbabwe–Zambia Business Forum is expected to enhance bilateral economic collaboration and create platforms for joint ventures between the two economies, leveraging their geographical proximity and shared industrial ambitions within the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
ZimTrade Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Allan Majuru, said the forum provides an important avenue for companies from both countries to connect and identify mutually beneficial opportunities.
“This engagement is designed to promote collaboration between Zimbabwean and Zambian businesses. We are looking at ways to expand trade, strengthen regional value chains, and explore investment opportunities that can drive industrial growth,” Majuru said.
He added that the meeting builds on the long-standing historical and economic ties between the two countries.
“Our goal is to move beyond traditional trade relations and create sustainable partnerships that contribute to regional integration and competitiveness,” he said.
Business leaders from both countries are expected to deliberate on strategies to enhance value addition, improve supply chains, and harmonise trade regulations to ease the movement of goods and services across borders. The forum will also examine potential collaborations in infrastructure and energy development to support industrialisation efforts in both nations.
Economists say the timing of the event is crucial as both Zimbabwe and Zambia intensify efforts to diversify their economies. Economic analyst Rumbidzai Mataranyika said the forum could unlock new areas of cooperation.
“Zimbabwe’s strengths in manufacturing and agro-processing can complement Zambia’s mining and energy sectors. This kind of engagement lays the foundation for sustainable regional growth,” she noted.
The Zimbabwe–Zambia Business Forum marks another step toward deepening bilateral relations and strengthening private sector-led growth in the region.
