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Auxilia Katongomara, Business Reporter
ZIMBABWE is one of the biggest markets for Japanese firm Fujifilm in Africa supplying the country’s medical facilities mainly x-ray machinery and films.
Fujifilm specialises in electronic imaging, photographic film among other electronics. South Africa is the firm’s biggest market in Southern Africa.
Only two Japanese firms are exhibiting at this year’s Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) – Fujifilm and Toyota Zimbabwe.
The Embassy of Japan is also exhibiting various services and projects that Tokyo is undertaking in Zimbabwe.
Japanese Embassy counsellor Yoshitake Tsuzuki said Zimbabwe has been a good market for Fujifilm.
“We’ve only two companies exhibiting this year, Fujifilm and Toyota Zimbabwe, which is already based in Bulawayo. But of the two companies, I’m glad to say Zimbabwe is one of the biggest markets in Africa in fact it’s second after South Africa,” said Tsuzuki.
“Fujifilm supplies medical equipment to hospitals in Zimbabwe mostly x-ray machinery to the government and private hospitals in the country”.
Tsuzuki said the Tokyo-based company was not only specialising in photography and medical systems but had produced more electronic systems that include life sciences, graphic arts, flat panel display materials, and office products, based on a vast portfolio of digital, optical, fine chemical and thin film coating technologies.
The counsellor said he hoped more companies would come and invest as well as showcase at the trade fair next year.
Tsuzuki said Zimbabwe and Japan shared cordial relations that have seen his country embarking on a number of projects among them the training of students in 40 different sectors in Japan annually, irrigation development grants worth $15m food aid, water and sanitation and hygiene project (WASH) and construction of classroom blocks.
Japan is also involved in mine clearance in north eastern Zimbabwe where over 500,000 square metres of land were cleared of landmines.
Online Reporter