The ManicaPost
Kudzanai Gerede Business Correspondent
Mutare’s Border Timbers scooped a double after being voted 2016 Building and Construction Sector best exporter and Overall Exporter of the year at the prestigious ZimTrade Annual Exporters Conference Dinner Awards Ceremony held on Thursday last week at a local hotel in Harare.
The Agro-industrial concern which was placed under judicial management last year after failing to settle its debts of around US$ 20 million to several financial institutions has been on an impressive recovery course emerging the best performer at the recent exporters’ conference.
Industry and Trade Minister Mike Bimha who was guest of honour at the colourful occasion spelt the need for the country to increase trade with other global trading partners.
“Government is making frantic efforts to increase exports so as to create a huge link between Zimbabwe and the rest of the world. We can operate in a vacuum hence we have seen the need to prioritize exports.
“Not only are we concerned about opening markets with the rest of the world, but we are also trying to get the much needed foreign currency for the economy to perform better,” he said.
One of the company’s executives who refused to be identified told Post Business that positive export performance was a result of the company’s restructured business model that has helped the firm get new market linkages across the globe while having their biggest export markets in Botswana and Zambia.
“We are facing challenges just like any other company in these tough economic times but veld fires are our biggest challenge. Most of our timber is being destroyed by uncontrolled fires being started by nearby communities and that is affecting our production,” Mr Peter Bailey told Post Business in a telephone interview.
Other winner on the night included Ecomak Limited (Agriculture input sector), Paramount Export PVT LTD (clothing sector), Zimbabwe Spinner and Weavers Ltd (Textile sector), JW Wilson International Pvt Ltd (furniture sector), Zimflex (horticulture/floriculture sector), Hunyani Paper and Packaging Pvt Ltd (packaging sector), Verichem Pharmaceuticals Pvt Ltd (pharmaceutical sector), Lake Harvest Aqua Culture Ltd (processed foods and beverages and Ego Italian Shoes Pvt Ltd (leather products and footwear).
