Limpopo companies out to conquer Zim

The trio joined 25 other SA companies that exhibited their products and services at the 57th edition of the popular Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF), from 26 to 30 April.

The companies’ trip was organised and funded by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) with the aim of assisting South African businesses find a market for their products and services outside of the country.

The three companies are Baroka Fashion Design, Phuti Food Manufacturing and Rainbow Reservoirs.

Baroka Fashion Design Director, Jeanett Phasha, said the fair enabled her company to find a market for the women’s clothing and neck pieces that Baroka produce.

“We want to establish a client base in Zimbabwe in order to export our products to the country. We hope to establish contacts and build relationships which will open doors for us. We did not only go to Zimbabwe to sell our products at the exhibition, but to interact and network with clothing shops and boutiques so we can start exporting our garments to other African countries,” says Phasha.

For Phuti Lamola, Managing Director of Phuti Food Manufacturing, getting buyers in the form of retailers and bulk users for his spices, soya mince and soups which he produces in Polokwane, was his main priority for the trip to Bulawayo.

He says they hope to market their products to retail shops and other companies which may be interested in placing bulk orders for use and distribution in Zimbabwe. He says they hope to establish a market for their products in Zimbabwe to help their business grow.

“We will need to increase our production capacity by buying more machinery but this means we’ll be creating more jobs,” says Lamola gleefully.

Senior Executive for Rainbow Reservoirs, Wayne Thompson, says he is optimistic that the participation in the exhibition will go a long way in assisting his company make headway in the reservoir tanks market in Zimbabwe.

“We are on a serious mission of expanding our market into Zimbabwe and grab a sizable market share there. We have previously exported to Zimbabwe but we want to establish a stronger presence for our products there. Even though there are other companies operating in the country in the same segment, we are confident our products will offer superior quality. We are confident we can supply the type of products in high demand in Zimbabwe,” says Thompson.

The company already exports to countries such as Botswana, Angola, Equatorial Guinea, Zambia, and Ethiopia and hopes to leave a lasting impression on Zimbabwean consumers.