Chronicle Editor
Sunday News Reporter
THE Zimbabwe is Open for Business mantra by President Mnangagwa has worked into the country’s socio-economic fabric and restored vigour and vitality, a cabinet minister has said.
Delivering a key note address at the Brand Zimbabwe Campaign at the Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s senior management and ambassadors’ retreat in Bulawayo last week, the Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services, Hon Monica Mutsvangwa, said riding on the momentum of the Zimbabwe is Open for Business mantra, the Brand Zimbabwe Campaign was already paving the way for the country to establish new relations with new friends, reviving ties with countries that it had broken ties with, and further deepening ties with those friends who have stood by the country during difficult times.
“The Brand Zimbabwe project is also starting to rekindle our motivation towards the consolidation of our national unity, reduction of polarisation, strengthening of social coherence and concentration on our national project, which is, what is important for all Zimbabweans from Zambezi to Limpopo.
To ensure the success of the branding project, the campaign, which my Ministry is leading, has so far held a consultative meeting with the private sector, in the true spirit of inclusivity. In this meeting we highlighted the necessity of some brands to raise their competitive edge and become the key pillars of the Zimbabwe national Brand. In this meeting we also highlighted the need to promote the buying of Zimbabwean products to promote our industries and innovation that many of our youths are engaged in, as a way to help restore our national pride as Zimbabweans.
“We also met with marketers where we highlighted the importance of marketing the country’s brands and our country. Meetings with other stakeholders and in different locations of our country are planned for this year and next year, so that we can ensure that our national brand is owned by Zimbabweans. We are meeting today with the country’s top diplomats, those who have the responsibility of defending and promoting all the aspects of our country, politics, defence, security, culture, investments and trade relations, to mention but a few. Our friends, potential partners, foes, and all those that are interested in the country come to you first before they land in our country. You are the first image of the country that they encounter, and as such we will often be judged or commended through you.”
The minister said Foreign Affairs and International Trade’s senior management and ambassadors have a special responsibility in promoting and maintaining a strong brand for our country.
“You often deal with Zimbabweans in the diaspora that have a special role in the Brand Zimbabwe exercise. Brand Zimbabwe cannot be achieved without your serious engagement and commitment. The Ministry of Information hopes to establish a strong partnership with you to package attractive investment information for the development and prosperity of the people of Zimbabwe. This I believe is fairly easy to do, considering the strides of the Second Republic.
“At present, Domestic and Foreign Direct Investment is breathing a new entrepreneurial ethic across the length and breadth of our country. Our bountiful mineral resources are exciting and attracting the attention of world class corporate boardrooms. Whoever dreamt that Tsingshan Holdings Group, ranked number 238 on the Fortune 500 conglomerates would establish a full carbon steel ecosystem in Zimbabwe? It started with ferrochrome furnaces in Selous on the Great Dyke. The next step was the Dinson coke batteries from thermal coal in Hwange and the final stage is the Manhize Carbon Steel Blast Furnaces in Mvuma. There is another world class act going on with lithium as global transportation migrates from fossil fuels to new energy electric vehicles. A whopping $700 million dollars’ worth of mergers and acquisitions have been occurring covering Arcadia in Goromonzi, Sabi in Buhera, and Zulu Lithium in Bikita. All this in a mere five months span.”
She pointed out that President Mnangagwa is going to make history by making Zimbabwe the first African country to offer a pathway to citizenship through investment in Zimbabwe.
“Many citizens of the globe, and more importantly, the African diaspora, who are scattered in various corners of the world, are ready to come home to Africa, starting right here in Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe will host the Pan-African Congress in Victoria Falls during the first quarter of 2023. This is a proud moment for us, and a great opportunity to strategically brand and position Zimbabwe not only in Africa, but around the globe.”
The minister said that a “new nation is rising, and it is as confident as it is forward looking. This is the stuff that lies at the heart of the Brand Zimbabwe Campaign.”
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