EU Zimbabwe focuses on investment and trade at ZITF 2025

Bulawayo, 22 April 2025 – The European Union (EU) is back at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) in Bulawayo for the third consecutive year— with its now-flagship pavilion, one of the largest international stands. Following two consecutive wins for Best and Most Outstanding Foreign Display, the EU returns this year showcasing a strengthened focus on private-sector partnerships and sustainable investment under the Global Gateway strategy.

Building on the success of 2024, this year’s EU Pavilion will feature an expanded #TeamEurope presence, with contributions from several EU Member States, including France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, Romania, Netherlands, Portugal, Belgium representing European member states, European businesses and implementing partners. The EU stand will also host various #TeamEurope projects underway in Zimbabwe.

This year during ZITF week, the EU launched a new phase of its Global Gateway campaign with the theme “SILANI, TINEMI, EU WITH YOU” that will raise awareness on the impact of the Global Gateway initiatives falling under the theme, “The European Union and Zimbabwe partnering for inclusive and sustainable business development.”

This year’s ZITF theme, “Industrialisation: Crafting an Integrated Economic Landscape,” aligns closely with the EU’s commitment to inclusive and sustainable business development in Zimbabwe. It also reinforces the shared ambition to promote an integrated and competitive economic landscape—goals that are central to Zimbabwe’s National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1) and Vision 2030.

In this context, the EU’s increased focus on private sector engagement—highlighted at this year’s Pavilion—sets the stage for meaningful cooperation, ahead of the first ever upcoming EU-Zimbabwe Business Forum to be held from 20–22 May 2025 in Harare which will convene public and private sector stakeholders to unlock further investment opportunities.

“We are excited to return to ZITF this year with a strengthened focus on private sector engagement. Private sector engagement is vital to every economy,” said EU Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann. “Through our Global Gateway strategy, the EU has placed business development at the core of economic development, job creation and prosperity.”

The EU continues to show its long-term commitment to growing investments in the private sector through intermediate lending facilities. The total amount of financing extended to Zimbabwean commercial banks by EU financial institutions (European Investment Bank) and Proparco) over the past three years amounts to €90 million comprising intermediate credit facilities, portfolio guarantees, and trade finance. This partnership between the EU and Zimbabwean banks is a prime example of our collective efforts to create jobs, promote financial inclusion and ultimately contribute to sustainable economic growth.

The EU-Zimbabwe Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) and the EU’s Global Gateway offer a framework for increased trade and investment. The EPA offers a great opportunity to Zimbabwean companies that can export to the EU on a 100% duty-free, quota-free basis.

The agreement offers Zimbabwean companies the possibility to modernize and transform their manufacturing processes through the importation of machinery duty-free from Europe while allowing Zimbabwean companies to export duty and tariff-free to the EU. With a trading volume of 700 Million USD, and a positive trade balance in favour of Zimbabwe, this is a significant area of cooperation as the EU represents Zimbabwe’s fifth-largest trading partner and number-one destination for horticultural exports.

In a common space, the EU will feature information about the European Union’s trade and investment opportunities in Zimbabwe alongside other EU Member States, this year being Italy, France, The Netherlands, Sweden, Germany, Romania, and Belgium.

The EU pavillion aims at becoming a meeting and exchange point between European and Zimbabwean stakeholders on trade and investment where visitors can access information on: export requirements, support to agriculture machinery imports, technical assistance, lending facilities with the European Investment Bank as well as locating European business partners and exploring new markets.

The potential for growth of trade between Zimbabwe and the EU is substantial, and visitors to the #TeamEurope stand will gain valuable insights into maximizing the benefits of current free trade arrangements and much more.

The EU Pavilion will also come alive with a series of interactive activities and engagements led by the EU Delegation’s Global Gateway Ambassadors: Feli Nandi, Mary Anibal, Rumbi Takawira, and Asaph, —offering visitors the chance to engage directly with these influencers on topics ranging from climate-friendly agri-businesses to initiatives that empower youth and women. Visitors can expect to meet and interact with them at the stand throughout the week.

The #TeamEurope Pavilion also promises to be a dynamic hub for strengthening Zimbabwe-EU trade and investment links. We invite businesses, entrepreneurs, students, and visitors to our stand in Bulawayo to engage with us, explore what we have to offer, and to discover the many ways the EU is working with Zimbabwe to build a more prosperous, inclusive future.

The EU’s presence at ZITF 2025 underscores a broad, collaborative effort to accompany Zimbabwe toward its ambition of becoming an upper-middle-income society by 2030.  The “SILANI, TINEMI, EU WITH YOU” Campaign tells the story of the EU-Zimbabwe partnership dedicated to a sustainable and prosperous future for all.

Entities and projects present at the EU stand at 2024 ZITF:

For further information on EU funded projects, please visit:

https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/projects_en?s=129&f%5B0%5D=project_site%3AZimbabwe