Zimbabwe Sets Sights on US$ Growth Through Exports and Investment in NDS2

Zimbabwe has set ambitious targets for increased export revenue and foreign investment under the National Development Strategy Two (NDS2), the country’s next five-year economic blueprint aimed at accelerating growth and consolidating past gains.

With the final phase of NDS1 delivering over US$7 billion in export earnings annually, NDS2 is expected to build on that momentum by expanding market access and advancing industrial value addition.

The government, working with quasi-state economic institutions, is prioritising investor confidence and sector-specific reforms to drive long-term development.

ZimTrade client manager Kupakwashe Midzi said the steady growth in export receipts reflects the groundwork laid by the first phase of the strategy.

“We have seen exports trending upwards, particularly in sectors like horticulture, where performance has been exceptional. NDS1 focused on reclaiming lost markets, and that recovery is now visible in our figures,” he said.

He added that the next phase will push for more refined strategies. “Looking ahead, it is about maximising value from our exports through processing and branding. The focus now shifts to consolidation—how we sustain what we have built and push toward national growth in the next five years,” said Midzi.

According to ZBC, other key areas of focus include investment inflows, especially in mining, energy, and infrastructure.

Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) chief investment promotion officer, Engineer Silibaziso Chizwina, said there has been a rise in investor engagement and licensing approvals as the government continues to eliminate regulatory bottlenecks.

“We are seeing increased interest in high-impact sectors. Our job now is to ensure approved projects move from paper to implementation. NDS2 sets a clear directive on removing barriers while ensuring investors have a predictable environment to operate in,” said Chizwina.

She noted that investment decentralisation will also be prioritised under the new strategy. “We want to see meaningful development in every province. The idea is to unlock value from untapped regions and drive inclusive growth,” she said.

NDS2, which is expected to be officially launched soon, will serve as the guiding framework for Zimbabwe’s march toward becoming an upper-middle-income economy by 2030.