The main import commodities include beverages, chemical products, fuel, iron steel, various petroleum products, plastic products, raw materials and rubber. Exchange control is administered by the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe and authorised dealers have been empowered to approve certain foreign exchange transactions. Import licences have been abolished and import duties reduced. This trading summary is provided by the International Business Centre of SCMB which provides trade finance and other export services to South African companies exporting to Zimbabwe. A more comprehensive trade profile is available.
Foreign currency is now freely available and foreign import restrictions have been loosened.
Restrictions on the repatriation of profits have been removed. Export Processing Zones and liberal tax regime have been introduced. Zimbabwe also has a small but steadily growing domestic market and access to the larger regional market has increased with the end to civil war in neighbouring states. Although landlocked, it has access to seaports in Mozambique and South Africa. Opportunities opening for business and investment can be found in tourism, processing, packaging, telecommunications, information technology, mining, electric power generation, building and construction sectors of the country's economy.