Indian ambassador hails indigenisation laws

a five man business delegation from India that was touring a tool and die workshop at the Harare Institute of Technology.
The workshop has computerised equipment donated to the Ministry of Small-to-Medium Enterprises Development by HMT International of India through a government-to-government agreement to develop SMEs in Zimbabwe.
“We poured US$5 million into this project so that the small businesses in Zimbabwe can develop and lift this economy.
“Zimbabwe is on the road to economic growth and these small businesses can play a part in ensuring that Zimbabwe becomes one of the richest countries not only in Africa, but also in the whole world.”
He said the Indian Embassy had identified 19 centres in the country where it will set up projects like the one at Harare Institute of Technology.
“We have already supplied machines to Bulawayo Polytechnic, Lupane, Chinhoyi and Mutare. We have also identified 19 centres in the country where we will supply more machines so that all small businesses in Zimbabwe benefit,” he said.
Ambassador Tripathi said his government will also train people in technical skills locally and in India.
“We will bring our experts from India to impart technical skills to the local people. We will also take some to India so that they get skills to develop Zimbabwe,” he said.
HMT International managing director Mr Girish Kumar hailed the good relations between the two countries.
He said his company wanted to see a Zimbabwe with a strong SMEs community.
“India will always support Zimbabwe and this can be traced back to the pre-independence era when India gave moral support to the country at the Lancaster House conference. We want the small businesses to generate more revenue for the country,” he said.
The HIT workshop has so far clinched lucrative deals with big firms such as Delta Corporation and Megapak.