Buyers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are showing interest in investing in Zimbabwe’s agriculture sector, attracted by the country’s favorable climate, extensive fertile land, and abundant water resources.
This interest aligns with the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency’s (ZIDA) efforts to boost investments in agriculture, particularly in horticulture, which ranks as Zimbabwe’s fifth-largest export earner.
Recent growth in horticulture has been notable, especially in blueberry production, which expanded from 328 hectares in 2022 to around 506 hectares in 2023. Coffee and macadamia nuts have also shown promising yields.
UAE investors are particularly interested in local blueberry cultivation and other horticultural crops, leveraging Zimbabwe’s capacity to produce high-value exports.
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Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector enjoys a competitive edge, supported by ZIDA’s focus on attracting investment in both agriculture and related industries. The sector contributes approximately 12 percent to the country’s GDP.
With around 33 million hectares of arable land and favorable weather conditions—boasting about 3,000 hours of sunshine annually—Zimbabwe offers significant opportunities for UAE investors.
The country also benefits from a robust water infrastructure, including 10,000 small, medium, and large water bodies capable of irrigating over 2 million hectares.
Investors have the option to engage in agricultural production or explore downstream industries such as fertilizer production, logistics, and agri-tech, including the manufacturing of agricultural machinery.
Recent investment prospects include the Goromonzi Agro-Industrial Special Economic Zone and the Sunrise Citrus Project. The Sunrise Citrus Project, owned by Beitbridge Juicing and acquired by Schweppes, requires approximately US$35 million in equity. The Goromonzi Agro-Industrial Special Economic Zone plans to develop a 1,250-hectare agro-industrial park focused on advanced farming and horticulture, with a feasibility study already completed.
At the recent Zimbabwe-UAE Business Forum, Dusk and Dawn purchase manager Mr. Amith Nair expressed interest in local production of fresh produce, particularly avocados, citrus, and blueberries. He indicated a desire to produce locally for both domestic consumption and re-export.
ZIDA’s investment promotion manager, Mr. Tapindwa Chipunza, emphasized Zimbabwe’s advantages in agriculture, highlighting the sector’s potential growth to an estimated investment value of US$8.2 billion by 2025. He encouraged UAE investors to capitalize on Zimbabwe’s climate, water resources, and skilled labor.
Trade between Zimbabwe and the UAE has been expanding, with exports reaching US$1.9 billion in 2023, up from US$96 million in 2014. Zimbabwe imports fertilizers, electrical equipment, textiles, pharmaceuticals, and other goods from the UAE. Despite this growth, most exports remain primary and semi-processed products, and there is a push to enhance the export of value-added goods where Zimbabwe has a comparative advantage.
