Online Reporter
Judith Phiri Zimpapers Business Hub
THE Government has called for key issues to be addressed at the Mining Engineering and Transport Expo (Mine Entra) Conference 2025 to focus on integrating sustainability and innovation across the mining value chain.
Renowned as the country’s leading mining, engineering and transport showcase, Mine Entra which kicks off tomorrow (Wednesday) until Friday at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition and Conference Smart City (ZIECS) in Bulawayo, continues to draw key players from across the region and beyond.
Held under the theme “Beyond Extraction: Sustaining the Future of Mining,” the Expo will be officially opened by President Mnangagwa on Thursday.
Responding to media inquiries, Minister of Mines and Mining Development, Winston Chitando said the event should move the industry forward through practical solutions and partnerships.
“This involves a critical shift towards integrating robust environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles, adopting green technologies and digital transformation for efficiency, and promoting economic diversification through local beneficiation and value addition.
“Ultimately, the conference will champion the development of a more sustainable, innovative, and collaborative mining sector that secures its social license to operate and creates lasting value for communities and the economy,” he said.
He said Exhibitors at Mine Entra 2025 can maximise the presence of regional and international investors and suppliers by leveraging networking platforms, showcasing innovation and aligning with Zimbabwe’s mining priorities like beneficiation and sustainability.
The Minister said exhibitors must adopt a proactive and strategic approach.
“During the event, the focus should be on engaging in meaningful conversations, showcasing demonstrable solutions and tailoring their pitch emphasizing return on investment (ROI) for investors and reliability for suppliers.
“Critically, success is sealed through diligent post-event follow-up, where prompt, personalised communication is essential to transform initial contacts into concrete deals and long-term relationships, ensuring the brief meetings at the exhibition yield tangible business outcomes,” he added.
He said the appetite for investment in Zimbabwe’s mining sector has significantly grown since the coming in of the Second Republic as evidenced by a large number of strategic and big investment projects that are being established in the country.
Minister Chitando said these investment projects cover the mining sector value chain from exploration, mining, beneficiation and value addition, as well as expansion of existing projects.
“The Government of Zimbabwe is instituting various legal reforms and ease of doing business across all sectors, including mining, to ensure the country has a competitive investment climate. In that regard, investor appetite in the mining sector continue to rise.”
He said this year’s Mine Entra theme was not just relevant to Zimbabwe’s mining industry, it was arguably the defining challenge and opportunity for the sector’s survival and its role in national development and achievement of Vision 2030.
Peter Tanyanyiwa