Zim–SA Business Integration
After the SA–Zimbabwe Business Forum, dtic Export Support Is the Main Government Route for Cross-Border Firms
A South Africa–Zimbabwe Business Forum was scheduled for 21 August 2026 in Pretoria, on the sidelines of the Bi-National Commission (BNC), to connect Zimbabwean companies with South African exporters, investors and potential partners. For South African firms that want to follow up, the dtic's Export Marketing and Investment Assistance (EMIA) scheme is the main government-funded route into Zimbabwean markets.
This report sets out what the scheme covers, who qualifies and where the support stops. It draws on dtic and government sources listed at the end. We have not yet verified the outcomes of the August forum.
What the dtic offers
The dtic runs Export Marketing and Investment Assistance, known as EMIA. It is a cost-reimbursable grant that helps South African companies develop export markets for their products and services. Its 2025/26 incentive guide lists it under Export Promotion, alongside the Sector-Specific Assistance Scheme.
The dtic's website currently lists Group Missions for 2026/27. These are organised trade missions and national pavilions where qualifying South African companies can promote locally manufactured products and services in foreign markets.
Who qualifies
To benefit, a company must be:
• Competitive in the South African market
• In business for at least two years
• Export ready, meaning it can show the capacity to supply a foreign buyer
Other conditions apply. Applicants must be registered South African entities and tax-compliant. Individual participation is limited to four applications per calendar year, and applications must be submitted before the approved activity begins.
What costs are covered
EMIA reimburses practical export costs. Eligible items include:
• Economy-class airfare
• Exhibition space rental
• Stand construction
• Transport of samples
• Subsistence allowances
Support has existed for Zimbabwe-bound missions in the past. For an Investment and Trade Initiative to Harare and Bulawayo in October 2013, the dti offered approved companies a subsistence allowance of R2,000 per day and an economy airfare of up to R13,000. Those figures are historical and will have changed, but they show the type of support available.
Is Zimbabwe eligible?
Yes. EMIA excludes assistance for participation in SACU member states (Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini and Namibia). Zimbabwe is not a SACU member, so it is not excluded.
It is worth being clear about one point: we did not find a confirmed Zimbabwe-specific mission in the 2026/27 listing. Companies should check the current mission calendar with the dtic directly (contact centre: 0861 843 384).
The bigger picture: a government framework behind the trade
This support sits within a wider relationship. The two countries conduct bilateral relations through a Bi-National Commission established in 2015, and by 2019 had signed 45 agreements covering trade and investment, labour, migration, taxation, tourism and more. The Fourth Session of the BNC, co-chaired by Presidents Ramaphosa and Mnangagwa in Pretoria, added further agreements, including in agriculture.
In 2026, a South Africa–Zimbabwe Business Forum was scheduled for 21 August in Pretoria on the sidelines of the BNC. It focused on business-to-business engagements between Zimbabwean companies and South African exporters, investors and potential partners.
On the Zimbabwean side, the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA) has consolidated the services of more than 18 government departments to speed up investment approvals, and has issued licences to South African investors. Incentives for foreign investors depend on the sector, the form of investment and whether national project status is awarded.
The gap: support for trade is not support for integration
The dtic's schemes help companies get to the Zimbabwean market. They do not pay for what comes next: registering entities, aligning tax and licensing across two jurisdictions, structuring ownership, and staying compliant on both sides of the border. We found no joint funding scheme that covers this integration work itself.
Compliance and structuring costs sit outside the schemes reviewed here, so businesses entering Zimbabwe need to plan and budget for them separately.
Practical steps for your business
1. Check your tax and registration status. EMIA requires a tax-compliant South African entity.
2. Confirm you are export ready. Be able to show production capacity, a track record and a marketing plan.
3. Contact the dtic early. Applications must be submitted before the activity starts.
4. Verify current Zimbabwe missions. Ask which 2026/27 group missions or exhibitions cover Zimbabwe.
5. Prepare for the Zimbabwean side. Engage ZIDA on licensing and incentives, and plan your compliance structure before you land your first order.
About the publisher
Disclosure: Maltech-Africa is a South African compliance and business consultancy that offers registration and compliance services for businesses operating between South Africa and Zimbabwe. Those services may be relevant to readers of this report.
About the author
Innocent Muchererwa Mutara is a compliance expert and the founder of Maltech-Africa, a South African business consultancy and compliance firm. His work focuses on business setup, tax and regulatory compliance, and business integration between South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Contact: info@maltechafrica.co.za, www.maltechafrica.co.za.
Sources
• the dtic: incentive schemes guide 2025/26
• the dtic: EMIA individual participation
• the dtic: Group Missions 2026/27
• dti: invitation to the October 2013 Zimbabwe ITI
• DT Capital: EMIA conditions and exclusions (third-party summary)
• AllAfrica: Zimbabwe and South Africa eye trade boost at Pretoria Business Forum, 17 August 2026
• The Presidency: Third Session of the SA-Zimbabwe BNC, 2019
• SAnews: South Africa, Zimbabwe strengthen bilateral ties (Fourth BNC)
Newsletter
Get the compliance gaps nobody emails you about
One practical email a month for business owners and diaspora entrepreneurs in South Africa and Zimbabwe: what is due, what changed, and what to fix before it costs you.
