Online Reporter
Tanyaradzwa Rusike
THE Government of India is committed to support Zimbabwe’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) as they are the backbone of the country’s economy, Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Bramha Kumar has said.
He was speaking during a dinner he hosted for the Zimbabwe Chamber of SMEs after their recent visit to India.
Ambassador Kumar said there was need to support SMEs as they play a significant role in revenue generation.
“SMEs are the back born of any country. They provide employment and generate revenue.
“India SMEs have brought many people out of poverty and to enhance the number in the middle class, we need SMEs to work properly,” he said.
He added that SME sector cooperation between the two countries is not strong.
“What we have to do is to identify areas of cooperation and boost SMEs in Zimbabwe.
“There are mines and minerals, agriculture, food and processing, machinery exchange. Most of them are in food processing and India is a very strong country in food processing sector,” said Mr Kumar.
He said he is committed to enhancing cooperation between India and Zimbabwe in the SMEs sector.
“India and Zimbabwe are not friends from today, they are friends from the 16th century hence there is a strong link and we have to build on this.
“I am going to do my best to connect people of the two countries. I can promise to provide business-to-business interaction between the two countries,” he said.
Chairman for Harare Chamber of SMEs Dr Lucky Moyo commended the support they are getting from the Indian Government.
“It’s very significant to us to work with the government of India because they are very knowledgeable.
“What they teach you is for life. The technology they give you is guaranteed,” he said.
Chairman for Chitungwiza Business Community, Mr Tendai Mareya, who was part of the delegation that went to India recently, said they have learnt a lot from the Asian country regarding food processing.
Online Reporter