admincompanies in the face of perpetual vilification in some sections of the country’s private and Western media
Speaking to journalists after holding a closed door bilateral meeting with President Mugabe on the sidelines of the Langkawi International Dialogue which opened here at the weekend, Malaysian Prime Minister Mr
Najib Razak said there was need to boost trade and investment between the two countries.
He said his government was already encouraging local companies to spread their wings to countries participating in LID.
Malaysian companies, he added, had indicated that they needed some form of assurance on the benefits of investing in Africa.
Mr Najib, who also held bilateral meetings with the Prime Minister of Swaziland Mr Sibusiso Dlamini and Lesotho’s Prime Minister Mr Pakalitha Mosilili, revealed that President Mugabe felt that in the case of
Zimbabwe, low investment had been a result of negative perception.
“Generally, we spoke about increasing trade and investment. There is a decrease and we have to reverse the trend,” said Mr Razak.
“We are trying to encourage Malaysian companies to invest in the counties participating in LID. This however, depends very much on the political and business climate.
“Zimbabwe felt that it was a matter of perception and the country has to do more to assuage the concerns of Malaysia’s potential investors.”
Mr Razak also highlighted the need to invest in human resources and skills development, saying Malaysia was try-ing to woo more students from the African continent to study here.
Zimbabwe currently has a sizeable number of students studying at Malay-sian universities and other tertiary education institutions.
President Mugabe, who is the Head of State and Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, had earlier stressed the need for partners under the LID banner to engage the media to help in promoting consensus building in the socio-economic development agenda.
He said the media were key in linking up and propagating ideas from business, politicians, labour, civil society and the youth.
President Mugabe went on to urge investors to take advantage of an array of business opportunities available in most of Zimbabwe’s economic sectors, which he said remained unexplored.
In a presentation titled “Perspectives of the Smart Spirit – Delivering Socio-Economic Transformation” made during panel discussion at the ongoing LID, Cde Mugabe said there was scope for investment in the agro-processing, tourism, mining and manufacturing sectors.
There was also investment potential in the infrastructural areas of power, water, roads, rail, telecommunications and information communication technology.
“You are invited to participate and add value to development in these sectors,” said Cde Mugabe.
Zimbabwe is on the path to economic recovery after recording a 5,9 percent economic growth rate last year.
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe continued efforts to market the country as an attractive tourism and investment destination by joining 85 other exhibitors from Malaysia and African nations who are showcasing various products at the Putrajaya International Conference Centre where LID sessions are being held.
After the opening of the 2011 edition of LID, President Mugabe toured the Zimbabwe stand, which had information packs on what the country has to offer in various economic spheres including tourism, mining, manufacturing and agriculture.
The stand, which was manned by staff from Zimbabwe’s local embassy, also showcased some products from the Bulawayo-based Goodhope Leather Company and stone carvings by some of the country’s leading sculptors.
The Deputy Minister of Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Dr Samuel Undenge, who showed President Mugabe around the stand said the exhibition had been made possible through efforts of several Government arms including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its embassy here, the Ministry of Industry and International Trade and the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry.
Cde Mugabe also toured other stands set up by the embassies of Ghana, Namibia, Swaziland and Kenya as well as Malaysian government agencies.
On a lighter note at the stand of the Global University in Islamic Finance, the institution’s marketing and communications officer Miss Baidura Ahmad, implored Cde Mugabe to sign an autograph on one of the books on display.
He obliged by inscribing: “Best wishes in your endeavour to instill and promote good and efficient financial management,” before appending his signature at the end of the message.
A delighted Miss Ahmad told The Herald that she would keep the book forever to draw inspiration from the words of President Mugabe, whom she described as a legendary statesman.
Online Reporter