Chronicle EditorKiyapili Sibanda, Business Reporter
A DELEGATION from the Affirmative Action Group (AAG) will leave the country today to attend an Indonesian trade expo where it hopes to engage potential investors to participate in the country’s Special Economic Zones (SEZs).
Matabeleland regional AAG president, Mr Reginald Shoko, said their delegation comprises eight entrepreneurs who would use the platform to lure potential investment partners.
He told Business Chronicle in an interview that as an organisation they wanted to sell economic opportunities in Zimbabwe to the outside world and connect local entrepreneurs to potential investors.
“We are attending the Indonesia trade expo on invitation by the Indonesian embassy. A delegation of eight entrepreneurs will be leaving the country today. The major objective is to scout and invite various investors to the SEZs,” said Mr Shoko.
He added that as an organisation they believed that investors cannot come to a country unless they were exposed to available opportunities. Mr Shoko encouraged people in Matabeleland region to be pro-active and make use of the initiative.
“As an organisation we cannot continue to wait for investors to come to our shores. We must make a deliberate effort of going to their comfort zones and present to them available opportunities in the country.
“This will go a long way in debunking the notion that empowerment is limited to indigenisation, affirmative action and then economic empowerment,” he said.
Mr Shoko said for a long time people in this region were cry babies but the current crop were pro active as they were involved in the Malaysia-Zimbabwe business network.
“For a long time people in this region have been cry babies. The current crop of entrepreneurs is very pro active and not reactive that is why you see such initiatives taking place. Remember we were involved in the Malaysia-Zimbabwe business network,” he said.
Mr Shoko highlighted that the Malaysia-Zimbabwe business network seeks to pursue issues around pharmaceuticals, rubber industries and beef exports.
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