Andrew
Chief Reporter
PLANS by Afreximbank — a pan-African multilateral financial institution — to set up its regional headquarters in Zimbabwe are taking shape, with the bank recently inviting expressions of interest from contractors to kick-start construction in Harare.
The scope of the project includes a nine-storey building, state-of-the-art hotel and trade centre.
In an interview with The Sunday Mail, Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe Governor Dr John Mangudya said the country would benefit significantly from the development.
“It shows that Afreximbank has come of age and that it is consolidating itself as a financial powerhouse in Africa,” he said.
Dr Mangudya said construction of the offices in Harare was a huge vote of confidence in Zimbabwe.
“It also shows that it has confidence in the Southern African region and in particular in Zimbabwe, where that regional office will be based,” he said. “Investment in such a huge project requires financial resources that can only be deployed where an investor sees value. There is value in this region.”
Afreximbank indicated in its invitation for expressions of interest that the new structure will be built in Newlands.
“The bank intends to construct its Southern Africa Regional Office and Trade Centre on a 12 000 square metre plot of land in the Newlands area of Harare, Zimbabwe. The 30 000sqm iconic mixed-use business complex consisting of corporate offices, conference and exhibition centre, innovation and incubation hub, knowledge centre and a 120 key four-star hotel shall provide an integrated one-stop shop for trade facilitation and information services and trade finance, and offer a range of facilities which will be housed in two eight- and nine-storey tower blocks.”
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