‘Businesswomen must engage ZimTrade’
Women in business should engage the country’s trade promotion body, ZimTrade to come up with solutions which will enable them to participate in international markets, the new Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu has said.
Speaking at a women in enterprise conference last week Minister Ndlovu highlighted the need for local women in business to tap into the export markets.
“There is need to increase exports of our goods, I call upon women entrepreneurs to also work with ZimTrade in searching for the export markets.
“With the new mantra that Zimbabwe is open for business the sky is now the limit for our women entrepreneurs. Let us work together and change the face of our economy and rise above all to restore the country’s position by increasing domestic production and exports.
Forex shortages choke footwear firm
TOP exotic leather shoe manufacturer, Millennium Footwear, says foreign currency shortages are throttling its operations and is struggling to meet supplier requirements, while at the same time affecting the firm’s competitiveness.
Millennium Footwear’s suppliers such as those that provide leather, require foreign currency for their own raw materials.
The company’s director Stuart Simali told The Herald Business in emailed responses that at the moment, capacity utilisation is at 50 percent due to a raft of challenges including foreign currency blues.
However, the capacity utilisation represents a 10 percent jump from about 40 percent in the first quarter.