The national trade development and promotion organisation, ZimTrade, will host the 2026 edition of the Shop@Zim Buyers’ Forum and the Annual Exporter of the Year Awards from 2 to 6 November 2026 in Bulawayo and Harare.
The week-long programme is expected to provide a strategic platform for meaningful engagement between Zimbabwean exporters, international buyers and policymakers, with a focus on unlocking new market opportunities and strengthening existing trade linkages.
Commenting on the upcoming events, ZimTrade Chief Executive Officer Mr Allan Majuru said the initiative is designed to bridge the gap between local businesses and export markets by enhancing understanding of international market trends and fostering sustainable commercial connections.
“The event is designed to facilitate a deeper understanding of global market dynamics, connect Zimbabwean companies with buyers, and align national export strategies with opportunities for growth and value addition,” said Mr Majuru.
Buyers drawn from Africa, Europe and Asia are expected to participate as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral business relationships and explore long-term trade partnerships with local suppliers across key productive sectors.
Mr Majuru highlighted that the decision to structure tailored buyer sessions in two cities follows positive feedback and tangible results recorded in previous editions of the Forum.
“This year, we are expanding the physical reach of the buyers to both major cities to allow for more robust interaction and strategic planning for exporters across regions,” he said.
“This format allows for greater participation and more tailored interactions, resulting in partnerships, business deals and the identification of new markets for Zimbabwean products.”
This year’s Shop@Zim Buyers’ Forum will commence in Bulawayo on 2 November 2026, giving companies in the southern region an opportunity to pitch their products and services directly to selected regional and international buyers.
The buyer engagements will then shift to Harare on 4 November 2026, where the second leg of the Shop@Zim Buyers’ Forum will be held, targeting exporters and producers in the northern region.
The week’s activities will culminate on 6 November 2026 with the prestigious ZimTrade Exporter of the Year Awards in Harare. The gala event will celebrate Zimbabwean companies that have demonstrated excellence in exporting and will honour businesses that have adopted best practices in growing their international footprint, driving value addition and contributing to national export growth.
The Awards remain a key feature on the national trade calendar, recognising resilience, innovation and competitiveness among local exporters.
Beyond celebrating export excellence, the Shop@Zim Buyers’ Forum and Exporter of the Year Awards are aligned with the national development agenda under Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2). By promoting value addition, beneficiation and export-led industrialisation, the initiatives directly support NDS2 priorities of structural transformation, private sector-led growth and integration into regional and global value chains, as Zimbabwe accelerates towards its aspiration of becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.
