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Africa Moyo
The SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW) is important as it promotes the growth of businesses in the region through the exchange of business ideas and allowing companies to showcase their products to the regional market, diplomats have said.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to the DR Congo, David Sigauke, said through the Industrialisation Week, Zimbabwean companies “also have the chance to market their goods and services to the region and be in a position to clinch lucrative contracts”.
Ambassador Sigauke said DRC is a huge market for regional products given its population of over 100 million.
“Therefore, the embassy is primed to promote the growth of the market share of Zimbabwe-produced products in the DRC market.
“We participate in various forums and workshops organised by the host government or private institutions in Kinshasa, where we identify opportunities for our home based companies.”
Ambassador Sigauke said at platforms such as the Makutano Business Forum or the Katanga Business Meeting and other annual events, they engage different stakeholders to create opportunities for Zimbabwean companies in the DRC.
“We also identify investors who can invest in Zimbabwe during our day-to-day engagements efforts with the government and business community in the DRC,” he said.
Resolutions to be adopted at the 7th SIW must be implemented and supported by a systematic process of monitoring and evaluation of progress while areas that faced challenges are identified and resolved effectively, said Ambassador Sigauke.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Angola, Dr Thando Madzvamuse, said he held various meetings with the Angolan business community to encourage them to attend the SIW which ends today.
During the meetings, Dr Madzvamuse spoke about the history of the SIW, together with its objectives and potential benefits for Angolan businesses, including access to a larger market, exposure to regional investment opportunities and the chance to form strategic partnerships.
Angola Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIA) president, Engineer Vincent Soares, and other business delegates attended the SIW.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Belarus, Dr Ignatius Mudzimba, said the industrialisation agenda spearheaded by President Mnangagwa will grow the economy.
Since the embassy was opened in March last year, they have engaged in a number of multi-sectoral programmes aimed at promoting industrialisation, including marketing the country as a rich resource-based country looking for huge investments in mining, agriculture and tourism sectors.
The embassy has also promoted knowledge and skills transfer from Belarusian experts in mining and agriculture.
“Zimbabwe has benefited from an after-sales service from machinery providers from Belarus but looking to in-situ production. We are proud that Zimbabwe and Belarus successfully implemented the First and Second phases of the mechanisation programme. The Third Phase is under consideration, comprising up to 3 161 tractors and 80 combine harvesters.
“In addition, a total of 53 fire-fighting trucks were delivered and handed over to the Ministry of Local Government and Public Works,” he said.
There is a signed memorandum of understanding between AVM Africa (Pvt) Ltd and OJSC Minsk Automobile Plan for the production of buses in Zimbabwe. The AVM prototype bus was launched by Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga recently.
Ambassador Mudzimba said they have also signed many government-to-government cooperation agreements and memoranda of understanding, as well as inter-institutional cooperation agreements between Belarus and Zimbabwe.
“I pushed that there was need to have Belarusian production facilities in Zimbabwe as that would spring Zimbabwe as a major industrial regional hub on industrialisation.
“These views were considered at the Zimbabwe-Belarus Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation.
“The recently established Zimbabwe Belarus Women in Business is one such vehicle to achieve industrialisation through women empowerment,” said Ambassador Mudzimba.
Palestinian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Dr Tamer Almassri said the SIW is “a crucial platform for promoting economic growth and development in the Southern African region especially at a time Zimbabwe is assuming the chairmanship of the block”.
“In essence, the SADC Industrialisation Week is a catalyst for transforming the region into a competitive and prosperous economic bloc. By addressing key challenges and seizing opportunities, the event plays a vital role in achieving the SADC vision of a peaceful, secure, and prosperous region. Zimbabwe stands to benefit from this as it is a country endowed with natural resources and we are confident Zimbabwe will be able to achieve Vision 2030,” said Ambassador Almassri.
He said efforts to link Palestinian businesspeople with Zimbabwe and SADC are presently facing hurdles due to the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza that has killed nearly 40 000 Palestinians, displaced about 2,2 million people while 90 percent of Gaza has been destroyed.
However, a lot of Palestinian businesspeople outside Palestine are keen to come and invest in Zimbabwe and the embassy is engaging local relevant ministries and authorities for them to come.
“We are convinced that the time to invest in Zimbabwe is now as the Government under the leadership of HE Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa has come up with sound policies that promote ease of doing business and as Palestine, we won’t be left behind. We wish Zimbabwe well as it assumes the chairmanship of SADC and Zimbabwe will be a torch-bearer for the SADC region,” said Ambassador Almassri.
Indonesian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Dewa Juniarta Sastrawan, said the SIW was one the main regional drivers in implementing the African Continent Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
He said through hosting the event, Zimbabwe has a huge opportunity not only in exhibiting the advancement of its industrial development, but also in integrating its economy to the global market, particularly through the implementation of the AfCFTA.
Indonesia also wants to explore opportunities to cooperate with partners in Zimbabwe in mining to support value addition in the Zimbabwean and SADC mining sectors.
Furthermore, Indonesia sees Zimbabwe’s logistics and transport infrastructure playing a key role in furthering economic integration and industrialisation in SADC, and would like to explore opportunities for cooperation on the revitalisation of railway networks in Zimbabwe.
Online Reporter