The Limpopo Economic Development Agency (LEDA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Zimbabwe’s national trade promotion organisation ZimTrade.
LEDA Group CEO Jason Ngobeni described the agreement as “a shared commitment to unlock opportunities for business, deepen investment and accelerate regional economic integration,” as both parties move to strengthen economic cooperation between the two regions.
The agreement, signed in Polokwane, aims to deepen cross-border trade, expand investment flows and create practical opportunities for small, micro and medium enterprises (SMMEs) across Limpopo and Zimbabwe.
It also reflects a broader push towards regional integration and stronger intra-African trade under emerging continental frameworks such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The partnership is positioned as a long-term economic collaboration that goes beyond diplomatic engagement, focusing on real trade activity, industrial development and value chain participation for businesses operating in both economies.
What the partnership means for businesses
Ngobeni said the agreement will focus on trade facilitation, industrial collaboration and value chain integration, with special attention on enabling SMEs to participate meaningfully in regional markets.
He highlighted the Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone as a strategic platform expected to drive cross-border industrial activity, supplier development and export-oriented manufacturing.
“The Musina-Makhado Special Economic Zone should play that role because it is a strategic economic platform that can leverage these opportunities, especially for cross-border investment, industrial development and supplier participation,” Ngobeni said.
He added that the partnership is not limited to large corporations, but is designed to support entrepreneurs through structured business matchmaking, export readiness programmes and improved market access systems that allow smaller businesses to scale beyond local markets.
From raw materials to value-added growth
ZimTrade CEO Allan Majuru said the partnership is aimed at shifting economies away from exporting raw materials towards value-added production that supports sustainable industrialisation.
He said rural industrialisation is key to unlocking participation in trade, particularly for communities and small producers who often remain outside formal export systems.
Majuru pointed to opportunities in indigenous natural resources such as marula and baobab, which he said can play a major role in driving rural development and creating sustainable livelihoods when processed into higher-value products.
“Those things you don’t water, you don’t put chemicals on, you just harvest, add value and sell them as organic products,” Majuru said, noting that such goods have growing demand in both African and international markets.
He also stressed the importance of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) in expanding export opportunities and improving regional competitiveness for African producers.
SMEs at the centre of regional integration
The partnership places SMMEs at the centre of cross-border trade expansion, with a focus on improving market access, reducing trade barriers and strengthening competitiveness across both regions.
It is expected to connect small businesses to structured regional value chains, enabling them to participate in trade opportunities that were previously difficult to access due to regulatory and market limitations.
The initiative also aligns with broader efforts to integrate informal cross-border traders into formal systems by improving compliance support and creating safer, regulated trading environments in border economies.
Acting HOD of LEDET, Keleabetswe Tlouane, said the initiative represents more than a development programme, but a catalyst for inclusive economic growth, job creation and improved livelihoods in both Limpopo and Zimbabwe.
She described the agreement as a historic milestone, noting that it opens a new phase within the South Africa–Zimbabwe Bi-National Commission framework and strengthens long-term bilateral cooperation.
Both institutions are expected to finalise a joint action plan with measurable milestones before the end of the year, ensuring that the agreement delivers tangible outcomes for businesses and contributes to sustainable regional economic growth.
