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Noble Ncube
CONSTRUCTION work of the country’s state-of-the-art India-Africa Incubation Centre to train entrepreneurs in various business areas has started, a Cabinet Minister said.
Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) and Co-operative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni said workers from the Department of Public Works have started renovations of the workshop and offices at a building purchased by Government in the Waterfalls industrial area in Harare.
The contractor who will do the renovations is already on site and all construction material and equipment including the machinery to be used at the Centre has been delivered.
“We have bought all the necessary building materials and they are currently working on the site. We are working with the Department of Public Works who did consultations with SMEs involved in construction to partner it in the refurbishment exercise. The Government has hired experts to work on the renovations of the property,” Minister Nyoni said.
The establishment of the Centre is being made possible through a grant of $1 million, which would go towards the provision of equipment and technical expertise. The Indian government has so far released $557 883 towards the project.
According to a statement from the Ministry, the incubation system is a concept in which entrepreneurs and potential entrepreneurs are trained in a business area of their interest on different periods of time ranging between three and 18 months depending on the complexity of each particular line of business.
The Incubation Centre would house 26 different manufacturing technologies in food, electrical accessories and construction.
“This project will enhance technology incubation and technology transfer to the SME and co-operatives sectors in Zimbabwe and the general Zimbabwean community at large. The trainees will be equipped with technical and business management skills during the training period,” read the statement.
Upon successful completion of training, the graduates would be assisted with funding to enable them to procure their own machinery and venture into business.
The machinery would be installed once specialist works are completed with the Centre expected to be operational in March next year.
“Recruitment of training will be done through newspaper adverts and all those interested are encouraged to keep watching the Press for details,” read the statement.
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