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Farirai Machivenyika
Senior Reporter
A Russian bus and truck manufacturing entity, Kamaz Group of companies, has expressed interest in investing in Zimbabwe and utilising the country’s strategic location as a gateway for Russian businesses to enter the SADC and COMESA regions.
The company’s director, Mr Ramil Arifulin, said this on Wednesday after meeting Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Professor Amon Murwira who is in Russia for the 5th Session of the Zimbabwe-Russia Intergovernmental Commission for Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technical Cooperation.
The Kamaz Group of Companies is the largest truck producer in the Russian Federation and one of the world’s top 20 heavy-duty truck producers.
Kamaz manufactures a wide range of heavy trucks, trailers, buses, engines, power units, and numerous tools.
In his remarks after the meeting, Prof Murwira commended the cordial relations between Russia and Zimbabwe and said this can be used to enhance economic relations.
“We are taking this chance to meet with strategic companies to encourage them to do business with Zimbabwe and one of the strategic companies is Kamaz,” he said.
“We have had very fruitful discussions about possible investment by Kamaz into the Zimbabwean and African markets through Zimbabwe. They manufacture a variety of vehicles, state-of-the-art vehicles, heavy vehicles, and buses as well.
“So our discussion is to explore different avenues we can use for Kamaz to be present on the African market.”
Mr Arifulin said they are also seeking local partners in their quest to invest in Zimbabwe.
“We are now looking for a partner who will help us enter the Zimbabwean market, analyse the market, and devise a competitive technique for the Zimbabwean market,” he said.
Mr Arifulin said they have done a feasibility study on establishing an assembly plant in the country.
“For the assembly factory, at least 500 vehicles will be required per year to achieve the break-even point,” he said.
“We are also going to conduct a market analysis and scrutinise the competitors to issue a competitive bid.
“In the first place, we will be able to supply completely built units to Zimbabwe and the neighbouring countries, but if more than 500 trucks are required, an assembly factory will need to be opened, and we’ll have to establish it.”
The Inter-governmental Commission is following up on high-level agreements reached in January 2019 during President Mnangagwa’s visit to the Russian Federation.
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