adminMelody Chikono : Business Correspondent
Government says there has been immense buy-in over the development of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) and this will provide the SEZs Bill with the necessary impetus for its enactment into law soon. In his keynote address at the special economic zones seminar, which was held in partnership with Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) and the Japanese Embassy in Zimbabwe, the Minister of Macro-economic Planning and Investment Promotion Obert Mpofu said consultations were ongoing on possible pilot SEZs which Government intends to establish before implementing the model on a broader scale.
These include the proposed Sunway City integrated industrial park, Victoria Falls financial hub and the Bulawayo industrial hub.
Minister Mpofu said SEZs were important as they would attract foreign direct investment.
He added that to aid in the process of setting up the zones, Government was currently revamping the One Stop Investment Centre (OSS) to match international best practice.
“This OSS model will be replicated in the SEZs. At the same time Government is engaged in the ease of doing business reforms which are meant to make it more convenient for investors to conduct their businesses in the country,” he said.
Japanese ambassador to Zimbabwe Yoshi Hiraishi said Japan was working on establishing another one-stop shop on the Beitbridge border post.
Japan has been working with Zimbabwe on SEZs projects since 2009.
Online Reporter