adminHerald Reporter
Preparations for the Tobacco Investments and Promotion Conference, which will be held from April 5 to April 6 this year, have gathered momentum. The event, which is expected to be officially opened by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, aims at improving market prospects for players in the tobacco industry and scaling up their operations.
More than 250 delegates, who include farmers’ unions, environmental and climate campaigners, civic sector groups, senior Government officials and a broad range of investors, are expected.
Caleb Trust executive chairman and businessman Dr Masimba Msipa said the conference could help the country package investments in a way that is attractive for potential suitors.
“It is a fact that Zimbabwe is among the laggards in investment packaging,” he said. “A local promoter will typically have a mining claim, factory, farm lease, but the project implementation vehicle, EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment), bank account and soft infrastructure might not be in place.
“We look forward to sharing our experiences in integrated project planning and implementation at the conference.”
The managing consultant for Global PFFG Business Solutions, Mr Pio Gotore, said the conference sought to assess Government intervention schemes for smallholder farmers.
“We will also be looking at investments promotion of greenfield economies,” he said. “One case would be looking at Mvurwi, focusing on its resource endowment like production of tobacco so that it becomes a better town through infrastructure development.”
Mr Gotore said the conference would provide delegates with an opportunity to explore the country’s tobacco industry’s vast investment opportunities from agro production, processing and marketing within the whole tobacco chain.
“The conference also seeks to measure Government intervention schemes for smallholder farmers and Tobacco Industry and Marketing Board-licensed contract buyers,” he said.
“As such, efforts by small licensed buyers like AgriTrade to operate from other towns will necessitate closing of the gap between smallholder farmers with markets; henceforth reducing middlemen costs.”
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