Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Prof. Amon Murwira, has called on Treger products to accelerate its expansion into regional markets, stating that Zimbabwean industries must shift from domestic-focused production to outward-oriented growth.
Making the remarks during a tour of Treger Group organised by Zimtrade at the company’s manufacturing plant in Bulawayo, on Saturday, Minister Murwira commended Treger for investing in modern, knowledge-driven systems.
“At the end of the day, it is about the people and the knowledge they possess. A knowledge-driven economy is a real economy. Sustainable industrial growth is anchored on innovation, skills and systems that allow companies to compete beyond their immediate environment,” Murwira said
He stressed that Zimbabwe’s economic philosophy is built around outward-oriented production.
“To grow this economy, we must feed the world. For a long time, we have been inward-looking. Now our industry must look outward. That is how wealth is created. When we are inward-looking, the wheel turns, but it does not grow. Growth comes when we step beyond our borders,” Prof Murwira noted.
Treger Group executives indicated that while the company has established a presence in parts of Southern Africa, including Mozambique, it has yet to penetrate markets such as Tanzania, Kenya, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda.
Responding to the company’s production figures, Prof. Murwira said the data pointed to capacity that exceeds domestic demand.
“The numbers you are showing do not reflect an organisation that wants to feed Zimbabwe only. They reflect an organisation that wants to feed the region. That capacity must translate into market presence,” he said.
To support such expansion, the Minister revealed that Government has initiated a programme to establish warehouses for Zimbabwean products in strategic regional markets, beginning with Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
“To build trust in new markets, we must invest in logistics. These warehouses will function like bonded facilities where Zimbabwean products can be stored and distributed from within the region.
Companies will retain responsibility for their goods, while Government facilitates access to infrastructure that lowers market-entry barriers,” he added.
He urged Treger to position itself as a competitive regional brand.
“It is in our national interest to see Zimbabwean products across Africa,” he said.
Government, under President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has prioritised export-led industrialisation as part of its broader economic strategy, with increased emphasis on regional value chains and cross-border trade facilitation.
