National Trade Policy Document 2012 - tralac – trade law centre

8.2 TRANSPORT SECTOR
The transport sector plays a pivotal role in facilitating trade through
the movement of goods and people. Zimbabwe is land-linked and
strategically positioned as a gateway to markets in the region. This
presents the country with opportunities to develop and upgrade
its transport system as well as linking it with other countries in
the region. In this respect, the Government will come up with a
National Transport Policy that will facilitate the development of
an integrated transport system. This is expected to go a long way
in facilitating trade.
8.3 INFORMATION COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY (ICT)
The ICT sector is an important infrastructural enabler in facilitating
trade. Systematic application and innovative use of ICT will play
an important role in achieving the objectives of the National Trade
Policy. Service delivery by both the public and private sectors can
be enhanced through the use of modern ICT in areas such as
customs clearance, online trading and general communication. In
this regard, the current efforts by Government in coordinating and
rationalising investment in the fibre optic cable to the undersea
cable to facilitate speedy and reliable connectivity at minimal cost
is expected to help improve trade.
8.4 INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS (IPRs)
Zimbabwe enacted various Intellectual Property Rights laws,
between 2001 and 2004, to protect innovators over creations
of their minds. These laws, namely, Copyrights, Trademarks,
Geographical Indications, Industrial Designs, Patents and Layout
Designs of Integrated Circuits, are aimed at encouraging creative
work and technological innovation, ensuring fair competition, as
well as facilitating the transfer of technology.
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