Bulawayo, (New Ziana) – There is need for Africa to shift from exporting raw materials, and become a global hub of value-addition to its resources, Botswana President Duma Boko said on Thursday.
He said this when he officially opened the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, the country’s premier trade show, as the guest of honour.
The annual trade showcase, running under the theme “Connected Economies, Competitive Industries,” drew exhibitors from across the region and beyond, reinforcing its role as one of Africa’s premier trade and investment platforms.
“We must therefore move Africa from being a supplier of raw material into a global centre of value creation,” he said.
President Boko identified key sectors such as mining beneficiation, agro-processing, renewable energy, manufacturing and the digital economy as critical drivers of industrialisation.
He also called for the removal of trade barriers that continue to hinder business across borders, including customs inefficiencies and regulatory misalignments.
“We must remove, and remove as a matter of urgency, all non-tariff barriers such as customs and border inefficiencies, regulatory misalignments, administrative bottlenecks, infrastructure deficits that continue to inflate the cost of doing business,” he stressed.
Turning to the private sector, President Boko challenged business leaders to take a more proactive role in shaping policy and addressing economic challenges.
“Don’t go to the government and ask, go to the government and point it out, go to the government with well-thought-out, well-articulated solutions, because sometimes the government is not even aware that it is the problem,” he said.
He implored companies to invest in innovation and research, highlighting the importance of collaboration with universities and research institutions.
“You must invest in research and development. You must…make sure that these universities generate research that translates into prototypes that are then tested and can then be scaled and taken to market,” President Boko said.
He described Zimbabwe’s premier trade show as more than just an exhibition, but a critical platform for partnerships, deal-making and economic growth.
“This event is more than just exhibitions, it also serves as a marketplace for ideas, for partnerships and it is a driver for economic activity,” he said.
During President Boko’s state visit, Botswana and Zimbabwe signed 10 Memoranda of Understanding covering cooperation in a wide range of areas, including defence, trade and investment, immigration, policing, aviation, and small to medium entrepreneurship, reflecting concerted efforts to deepen bilateral cooperation between the two countries.
New Ziana
