Online Reporter
President Mnangagwa is scheduled to officially open the Finealt Bioeconomy Industrial Park in Mutoko today.
This major initiative is expected to act as a catalyst for rural industrial growth, generate thousands of jobs, and enhance local value addition and beneficiation, in line with Zimbabwe’s Vision 2030 development agenda.
The commissioning represents an important milestone under the National Development Strategy 2 (NDS2), which highlights rural industrialisation, value addition and beneficiation as key drivers in transforming Zimbabwe from a primary commodity producer into a diversified, manufacturing-led and export-oriented economy.
Developed by Finealt Engineering, an organisation under the Ministry of Higher and Tertiary Education, Innovation, Science and Technology Development, the industrial park is an integrated manufacturing hub comprising a biodiesel plant, a cooking oil processing plant and a soap manufacturing facility.
During the next phase of the project, a stockfeed plant is also expected to be added.
Designed to take advantage of locally available biological resources and agricultural by-products found mainly in Mashonaland East Province, the facility is expected to produce value-added products while strengthening community participation in economic activities.
The project also directly supports the goals of NDS2, which states that: “Under NDS 2, Government will prioritise the transformation of the agricultural sector into a competitive, export-oriented and value-driven industry that anchors rural industrialisation and growth in trade”.
Bunjiwe Mkwananzi