Harare — Giant stationery firm Eversharp will soon open new markets in Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo in a move aimed at boosting sales and exports.

Managing director Mr Tafara Makayi told New Ziana yesterday that the branches should be operational before year-end, adding the Angolan market was their top priority.

He said plans were also underway to ensure that the new market of South Africa was maintained and boosted to meet the ever-growing demand for their products. "This year we want to open new branches in Angola and the DRC," he said. "Our team is already in Angola doing the preparatory work and studying the market to ensure that the company has easy penetration of the market."

He said the Angolan and DRC markets had great potential to see the company increase its market share and generate foreign currency. Mr Makayi said that while new markets were being opened this year, the focus would also centre on SA, where the company recently opened a branch. "We already have offices in SA but our presence is still minimal," he said. "We aim to increase our market share and this month we will be sending more of our products there."

Eversharp, a giant player in the stationary industry, also exports to Zambia and Malawi. A subsidiary of Art Corporation, the company produces such products as pens, rulers and markers. It produces close to four million pens per month, 20 000 rulers every week and about 80 000 markers per month.