By William Guviyau
ZIMTRADE WILL, in May 2026, undertake a market scan mission to Vietnam and Thailand, complemented by a learning visit to THAIFEX – Anuga Asia.
The initiative is designed to strengthen Zimbabwe’s market intelligence in Southeast Asia and assess future opportunities to participate in leading international trade platforms.
The market scan will provide an in-depth analysis of the economic environment, trade dynamics, consumer trends, and regulatory frameworks in Vietnam and Thailand.
As part of the mission, ZimTrade will undertake a learning visit to THAIFEX – Anuga Asia, one of the region’s premier food and beverage trade exhibitions happening from 26 to 30 May 2026.
Thailand is a strategic gateway to the ASEAN market and the purpose of this visit is to gain firsthand insights into the exhibition’s structure, standards, and potential benefits for Zimbabwean companies.
The visit will enable ZimTrade to evaluate the relevance of THAIFEX as a future platform for Zimbabwe’s export promotion efforts, particularly in the agro-processing sector.
Importantly, the findings and insights gathered will be disseminated to Zimbabwean businesses through targeted feedback sessions, reports, and capacity-building programmes.
This approach ensures that a broader spectrum of exporters can benefit from the knowledge gained, while also informing the design of future outward seller missions and exhibition participation.
Vietnam and Thailand represent rapidly growing economies with increasing demand for high-quality agricultural and processed food products.
This presents a strategic opportunity for Zimbabwe to diversify export markets and position its products within dynamic Asian value chains.
Thailand represents one of Southeast Asia’s most dynamic and diversified economies and plays a central role in regional trade networks.
As the second-largest economy in mainland Southeast Asia, Thailand has developed strong capabilities in manufacturing, agro-processing, electronics, and automotive production.
The country also serves as a major trade hub within the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), connecting regional supply chains with global markets.
In terms of trade, Thailand is one of the most open economies in Southeast Asia and relies heavily on international trade.
According to Trade Map, Thailand recorded a persistent trade deficit throughout the five-year period, 2021 to 2025, widening sharply in 2022 to US$22,15 billion before stabilising at around US$11–12 billion between 2023 and 2025.
Overall, the data suggests expanding trade volumes alongside increasing import dependence.
For Vietnam, the import profile reflects a rapidly industrializing, export-driven economy, where demand is highest for production inputs rather than finished goods.
Looking ahead, Zimbabwean exporters are encouraged to begin preparing for potential participation in future editions of THAIFEX – Anuga Asia and similar international platforms.
This includes strengthening product quality and consistency, investing in internationally compliant packaging and certification, and aligning production processes with global food safety standards particularly in Asia.
Early preparation will position local companies to effectively leverage future trade opportunities identified through this mission and to compete on the global stage.
