Govt Targets USD1 Billion Export Boom

Itai Mazire

The Government has launched an ambitious drive to transform Zimbabwe into a major export hub, setting a bold target to grow manufactured goods sales abroad to USD1 billion within the next two years.

Addressing the 2026 Exporters Conference, Industry and Commerce Minister Honorable Mangaliso Ndlovu declared that the Ministry is mobilising Government Agencies and the private sector in a concerted push to pry open new international markets, aiming to reposition manufacturing as the cornerstone of the economy.

“Our target is to increase manufactured exports to USD1 billion by 2027, creating new jobs in the process,” said Hon. Ndhlovu.

In a significant policy shift to shore up foreign currency reserves and support local industry, the Minister revealed a strict new mandate for government bodies.

The strategy compels state entities to turn their supply chains inward, ensuring that public funds directly benefit domestic producers.

“The Ministry is implementing measures to ensure manufacturing and commercial sectors become the bedrock of our foreign currency earnings,” he said, emphasising the enforcement of a “Local Content Strategy” that mandates all Ministries and Agencies to source materials from domestic suppliers.

The push for exports is being coupled with a major regulatory overhaul designed to make Zimbabwean businesses more competitive on the global stage.

He said that the era of unchecked fees is over, with all new regulatory charges now subject to strict scrutiny.

“To enhance global competitiveness, all new regulatory fees are now subject to Regulatory Impact Assessments by the National Competitiveness Commission to ensure we do not place undue burdens on home-grown businesses.”

The USD1 billion target represents a significant leap from current figures and signals the government’s intent to aggressively pursue value-added exports over raw commodity shipments, aiming to stabilise the local currency and create sustainable employment.