The Zimbabwe – Europe Business Information Centre (Zim- EBIC) was launched in Bulawayo yesterday to link local companies with their European counterparts.
BY MTHANDAZO NYONI
Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha and European Union (EU) head of delegation in Zimbabwe, Philippe Van Damme officiated at the launch of the centre hosted by ZimTrade.
Van Damme said the centre will provide Bulawayo business people with necessary on the EU markets.
The platform will enhance knowledge sharing on thematic areas such as EU market intelligence, trade fairs; ESA-EU interim economic partnership agreement (ESA-iEPA) and tarrifs.
“The Zim-EBIC, which we opened today (yesterday) in Bulawayo, is the first step to the EU and to the wider world,” Van Damme said.
“The Zim-EBIC will provide you with all information required to prospect the EU market, to understand the EU market, to clarify the norms and standards to access the EU market.”
Van Damme said the three million euro trade and private sector development programme managed by the International Trade Centre (ITC) that financed ZIm-BIC will also help ZimTrade and associated private sector organisations.
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Van Damme said the new programme would help the government update its private sector and trade policies.
“You, private sector, not only in Harare, but also in Bulawayo, will be extensively consulted in the formation phase of the project, and actively involved in its implementation,” he said.
Bimha applauded the EU for choosing to house the Zim-EBIC at ZimTrade.
”I am confident that this platform placesZimTrade in a strong position, to better service the Zimbabwean business community,” he said.
He called upon trade related institutions in both the private and public sector, including individuals, to make use of Zim-EBIC.
ZimTrade chief executive officer, Sithembile Pilime said since the launch of the Zim-EBIC last year in Harare, the monthly usage of the centre had increased by more than 100% as more companies were appreciating the improved quality of services.
