adminHerald Reporter
Zimbabwe and India have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote technology transfer in the local SMEs sector.
The MoU is also meant to strengthen bilateral co-operation in technological projects that enhance employment creation.Speaking at the signing ceremony in Harare on Monday, SMEs and Co-operative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni said, “We are pleased to enter into partnership with global friends such as India, who have taken the lead in the area of information technology as we seek to achieve our goal of building a skill-based society upon which modern economies are anchored.
“This MoU shall be instrumental in fulfilling our shared objectives with National Small Industries Corporation through the establishment of an India-Africa Incubation or Vocational Centre consisting of 27 projects set to promote technological transfer to enhance employment creation.”
Minister Nyoni said the MoU dovetailed with the recently launched economic blueprint, Zim Asset, which is concerned with sustainable development.
“We are grateful that the project will go a long way in championing value addition and beneficiation of local resources which the country is abundantly endowed with,” she said.
The 27 agreed projects will include manufacture of nails, tomato canning and honey processing.
The projects will be co-ordinated by the ministry through the India-Africa Incubation Centre, which is the first regional facility established by the Indian government in Southern Africa to provide institutional support to SMEs.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter