Andrew
Online Reporter
Regional bloc COMESA and the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) say they are fully behind the establishment of the Common Agro-Industrial Park (CAIP) between Zimbabwe and Zambia in the maize and dairy value chains.
This was revealed on Wednesday at a joint workshop that sought to validate policy, regulation and institutional framework for the establishment and management of the CAIP.
A Common Agro-Industrial Park is considered a vehicle for the structural transformation of economies through the commercialisation of the agricultural sector value chains.
Under this programme, the two countries will collaborate by setting up joint ventures that will enhance earnings from agriculture starting with dairy and maize value chains.
The Zimbabwe-Zambia CAIP is the product of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) that was signed by the two countries’ respective industry ministers in March 2021, which marked the launch of the joint industrialisation cooperation programme between the two countries.
COMESA senior investment promotion officer in the directorate of industry and agriculture Mr Joseph Mupunga said the initiative is envisaged to expand intra-regional trade.
“This programme is anchored on the need to achieve industrialisation in the two member states of Zambia and Zimbabwe through collaboration and aims to increase the availability of industrial goods and services for bilateral market among themselves, develop appropriate skills and knowledge in industries and strengthen collaboration, as well as bolstering networking among policymakers, regulators, industry and academia,” said Mr Mupunga.
The programme has a long-term vision to bolster cotton, wheat, rice, soya beans, sugar, livestock (leather and dairy) and horticulture value chains.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter