The
SheTrades
Zimbabwe
Hub,
hosted
by
the
national
trade
development
and
promotion
organization
ZimTrade,
forms
part
of
ITC’s
global
SheTrades
Initiative,
under
the
United
Kingdom-funded
SheTrades
Commonwealth+
Programme.
This
is
the
22nd
SheTrades
Hub
worldwide
and
the
8th
in
Africa,
and
its
launch
comes
at
a
time
when
Zimbabwe’s
exports
are
rising.
Cumulative
export
earnings
for
January–December
2025
reached
$9.71
billion,
marking
a
30%
increase
year-on-year,
according
to government
data.
Yet
women
remain
largely
excluded
from
these
gains.
Despite
making
up
over 60%
of
the
labour
force, only
2%
of
women-led
businesses
engage
in
exports,
reflecting
persistent
barriers
such
as
limited
market
access,
complex
procedures
and
high
trade
costs,
including
related
to
transport
and
logistics.
The
SheTrades
Zimbabwe
Hub
targets
this
gap
directly
by
serving
as
a
resource
centre
to
equip
women-led
businesses
to
access
practical
tools,
market
intelligence,
market
access
and
export-focused
training,
while
building
a
network
of
partners
across
national,
regional
and
global
markets.
With
the
launch
of
this
SheTrades
Hub,
ZimTrade
joins
a
global
network
of
now
22
institutions
across
Asia,
Africa,
Latin
America,
the
Middle
East
and
North
Africa
as
well
as
Caribbean
regions,
creating
new
pathways
for
collaboration,
including
South-South
trade
and
cross-market
linkages.
The
launch
of
this
SheTrades
Hub
builds
on
two
years
of
targeted
interventions.
Since
2024,
this
partnership
has
delivered
targeted
support
to
women-led
businesses
in
the
essential
oils
and
beauty
sector,
including
training
on
market
compliance
and
certifications,
export
logistics
and
market
information,
alongside
trade
promotion
initiatives
such
as
inward
and
outward
trade
missions
connecting
Zimbabwean
women
entrepreneurs
directly
with
international
buyers
in
target
markets
including
the
United
Kingdom
and
the
African
continental
markets.
The
launch
event
follows
a
half-day
training
for
50
women-led
businesses
on
market-related
soft
skills.
It
features
a
panel
discussion
on “Celebrating
women-led
businesses:
What
should
we
expect
from
the
SheTrades
Zimbabwe
Hub?” and
brings
together
senior
government
officials,
development
partners
and
private
sector
leaders.
Speakers
include
Hon.
Dr.
Evelyn
Ndlovu,
Minister
of
Environment,
Climate
and
Wildlife,
Republic
of
Zimbabwe;
Hon.
Kiven
Mutimbanyoka,
Deputy
Minister
of
Women
Affairs,
Community,
Small
and
Medium
Enterprises
Development,
Republic
of
Zimbabwe;
Ambassador
Albert
R.
Chimbindi,
Permanent
Secretary,
Ministry
of
Foreign
Affairs
and
International
Trade,
Zimbabwe;
H.E.
Pete
Vowles,
British
Ambassador
to
Zimbabwe;
Mr.
Allan
Majuru,
CEO
of
ZimTrade;
and
Mrs.
Dorothy
Tembo,
Deputy
Executive
Director
of
ITC.
Mr.
Allan
Majuru,
CEO
of
ZimTrade,
said
the
initiative
reflects
a
deliberate
national
effort
to
ensure
women
play
a
more
active
role
in
export
growth
and
benefit
meaningfully
from
trade
opportunities:
“Integrating
women
into
mainstream
export
value
chains
is
key
to
building
a
more
inclusive
and
competitive
national
trade
ecosystem.
Increasing
women’s
participation
in
exports
expands
Zimbabwe’s
productive
base
and
strengthens
value
addition,
innovation
and
resilience
across
sectors.
At
the
same
time,
there
is
a
need
to
address
the
structural
barriers
that
have
limited
women’s
access
to
markets
so
that
export
growth
delivers
real
improvements
in
household
incomes
and
community
wellbeing.
The
SheTrades
Zimbabwe
Hub
is
a
practical
step
towards
supporting
more
women
to
enter
and
compete
in
export
markets,
contributing
to
national
growth
while
improving
livelihoods
in
a
meaningful
and
sustainable
way.”
ITC
Deputy
Executive
Director Dorothy
Tembo said:
‘With
the
launch
of
the
SheTrades
Zimbabwe
Hub,
we
are
working
with
ZimTrade
to
open
doors
for
women
who
have
the
talent
and
determination
to
compete
in
global
markets
but
too
often
lack
the
opportunities.
Women-led
businesses
in
Zimbabwe
will
gain
the
tools
and
connections
they
need
to
reach
new
markets.’
H.E.
Pete
Vowles,
British
Ambassador
to
Zimbabwe,
said:
“The
United
Kingdom
is
proud
to
partner
with
ITC
and
ZimTrade
in
launching
the
SheTrades
Zimbabwe
Hub.
When
women
entrepreneurs
thrive,
economies
grow,
communities
strengthen
and
opportunities
multiply.
This
Hub
will
equip
Zimbabwean
women-led
businesses
with
the
skills,
connections
and
confidence
they
need
to
compete
in
global
markets
–
including
with
UK
buyers.
Today’s
launch
is
not
just
an
investment
in
trade;
it
is
an
investment
in
women’s
economic
power
and
in
Zimbabwe’s
future.”
Post
published
in:
Business