Zimbabwe’s trade development agency ZimTrade has intensified efforts to improve small-to-medium enterprise competitiveness and export capacity through a new investment readiness and access to capital training programme conducted in Mutare.
The workshop, held in partnership with the National Venture Capital Company of Zimbabwe, focused on equipping SMEs with practical skills needed to secure financing, strengthen business operations and prepare for expansion into export markets.
In a statement, ZimTrade said access to capital remains one of the biggest constraints affecting the growth and competitiveness of local enterprises.
“Access to capital is critical to building competitive, export-ready SMEs in Zimbabwe,” the organisation said.
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“As part of our ongoing efforts to strengthen SME competitiveness and position local businesses for sustainable growth and export development, we partnered with the National Venture Capital Company of Zimbabwe to host an SMEs Investment Readiness and Access to Capital Training Workshop in Mutare.”
The agency said the initiative was designed to help businesses become investment-ready while improving their ability to attract funding and scale operations.
“Through the workshop, we equipped SMEs with practical knowledge on how to become capital-ready, strengthen their business models, improve access to funding opportunities and position themselves for growth, increased competitiveness and entry into regional and international markets,” ZimTrade added.
The intervention comes as Zimbabwe seeks to increase export participation by small and medium enterprises, which are widely recognised as a major driver of employment, innovation and economic activity but often struggle to access affordable financing and technical support.
Limited collateral, high lending costs and restricted long-term financing options have historically constrained SME expansion, leaving many firms unable to modernise production, improve standards compliance or penetrate export markets.
Authorities and business support institutions have increasingly turned toward investment readiness programmes, incubation initiatives and blended financing mechanisms as part of broader efforts to formalise and scale Zimbabwe’s SME sector.
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