The gem and jewellery industry is witnessing renewed enthusiasm as the Gem and Jewellery Export Promotion Council (GJEPC) recently concluded the 10th session of its Exporter Mentorship Program (EMP) on February 21, 2025. This session, themed “Explore Export Opportunities Through Shows/BSMs… Gear Up for the Year 2025!” aimed to guide and support aspiring exporters within the industry.
During this informative session, key presentations were made by Mr. Sridhar Iyengar, Director of International Events, and Ms. Naheed Sunke, Assistant Director of National Events at GJEPC. They unveiled the upcoming 2025 calendar for Shows and Buyer-Seller Meets (BSMs), encouraging member participation to maximize their export potential.
The presentations emphasized the importance of these events, illustrating pathways for members to first engage as visitors before potentially transitioning to exhibitors. Attendees expressed significant interest, leading to many inquiries about the planned events. These queries have been forwarded to relevant GJEPC departments for prompt follow-up, ensuring continued support for members eager to capitalize on export opportunities in 2025.
Meanwhile, ZimTrade is making strides of its own by equipping women entrepreneurs with the skills necessary to penetrate export markets through its recently launched Next She Exporter training program in Masvingo. This initiative, running from February 24 to 26, 2025, provides three days of hands-on training aimed at empowering women business leaders and enhancing their export readiness.
Established in 2021, the Next She Exporter initiative has already benefitted over 300 women entrepreneurs across Zimbabwe, providing them with comprehensive technical and financial support from both local and international experts. This program truly emphasizes ZimTrade's commitment to promoting women's economic empowerment by facilitating access to regional and international markets.
“Empowering women-led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Masvingo. We’re hosting our 4th Next She training from 24–26 February, equipping entrepreneurs with skills to scale up their businesses and tap to export markets,” read ZimTrade’s official tweet, highlighting the essence of this transformative training.
Participants are expected to gain insights on key areas such as financial literacy and AI-driven business growth strategies. This comprehensive approach not only prepares participants for the export dynamics but also encourages innovative thinking to adapt to the global marketplace.
Further complementing this initiative, ZimTrade has announced the Malawi Outward Seller Mission scheduled for May 13–15, 2025. This mission aims to connect participants with buyers from various sectors, including fast-moving consumer goods (FMCGs), building and construction, agriculture, and personal protective equipment (PPE).
“Don’t miss out on this chance to connect with leading buyers in Malawi,” ZimTrade emphasized, clearly presenting the potential benefits this mission could offer to stakeholders involved.
With initiatives like the EMP from GJEPC and ZimTrade’s Next She Exporter training, both organizations are significantly contributing to enhancing export readiness and opportunities for their members and participants. Especially for women entrepreneurs, these programs are paving the way to not just enter but thrive within global markets.
Overall, these initiatives stand as exemplary models of how targeted support and training can empower various segments of the economy, particularly industries like gem and jewellery and the community of women-led businesses. The optimistic outlook for 2025, as laid out by GJEPC and ZimTrade, signals exciting times for exporters aiming for success on international stages.