Removal of Export Permits – Opportunity for Zimbabwe Cut Flower Growers
The recently announced measures in the Mid-term fiscal policy-2016 to eliminate export permits in the horticulture sector provides an opportunity for cut flower growers.
To convert the opportunity into real business, there is need for immediate implementation of the measures to compliment the export development and promotion initiatives being spearheaded by ZimTrade. The removal of export permits is expected to improve the export competitiveness of local flower produce, through reduction of costs associated with regulation documents, long waiting periods of processing licenses and approvals as well as exhaustive processing of export documentation.
In 2002, Zimbabwe was the second largest exporter of cut flowers in Africa, after Kenya, exporting as much as US$60 million worth of cut flowers globally. However, latest statistics indicate that the country’s exports of cut flowers declined by 95% to a mere US$3,1 million in 2015. Zimbabwe generally has the ideal natural conditions for the growing of cut flowers. Historically, about 70% of Zimbabwe’s flower exports came from the Banket, Concession, Glendale, Bindura, Harare, Goromonzi, Trelawney, and Kwekwe areas, mostly growing Roses. Other flowers included Proteas, Asters and Chrysanthemums.
The Netherlands has remained Zimbabwe’s largest export destination for cut flowers, importing an average of 69% of the country’s cut flowers in the last 15 years.
There is need for local flower growers to keep abreast with state-of- the-art production practices as well as marketing techniques. In this regard, ZimTrade encourages them to interact with the Zimbabwe Trade Information Portal (Smart tools and trade map) in order to obtain information on the latest trends.
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The media release was prepared by ZimTrade. For more information, contact the Public Relations Officer, Dillon Kamutenga on 263-4-369 330- 41or 0773842214 or dkamutenga@zimtrade.co.zw
Publish Date: Wednesday 05 October 2016
