Online Reporter
Mukudzei Chingwere in BEIJING, China
Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga’s investment drive in China has gathered momentum after five major Chinese companies paid courtesy calls on him and expressed willingness to invest in Zimbabwe, with two more companies expected to meet him later today.
The seven engagements are part of VP Chiwenga’s business programme in China and come as Zimbabwe seeks to leverage its strong political relations with Beijing to attract investment, technology and expertise in the energy, agriculture, transport infrastructure, pharmaceuticals and other productive sectors.
POWERCHINA, represented by Vice President for East and Southern Africa Wang Yuzhi, said it is prepared to invest in solar and other power initiatives.
The company is already active in Zimbabwe, having worked on Hwange Thermal Power Station Units 7 and 8, as well as projects in Nyabira and Ngezi.
“We are prepared to invest in Zimbabwe, create jobs for local people and operate in an environment that is beneficial to both investors and the host country,” Mr Wang said. He added that VP Chiwenga had called on responsible companies to invest in Zimbabwe, which he said has the right ingredients for investment.
Agriculture also featured prominently in the discussions, with Dayu Irrigation Group Deputy General Manager for the International Business Division, Mr Fu Shau, saying his company is already supplying agricultural and irrigation equipment in Zimbabwe and is looking to deepen its presence.
Mr Fu said the company’s long-term plan is to manufacture irrigation equipment in Zimbabwe, aligning its operations with the Government’s value-addition and industrialisation drive.
Dayu has longstanding links with Zimbabwe. In 2018, it signed a US$80 million agreement to supply centre-pivot and drip-irrigation systems.
In the medical sector, C-Bezoar Pharmaceutical expressed willingness to explore investment opportunities in Zimbabwe. The Beijing-based biotechnology company specialises in traditional Chinese medicine-derived biomedicine, pharmaceutical research and natural medicinal resources.
China Rail International Group (CRIG), which has previously interacted with Zimbabwean authorities over possible cooperation in reviving the country’s railway system, was also among the companies that engaged the Vice President.
CRIG is the international arm of China Railway Group Limited and has extensive expertise in railways, railway electrification and other major infrastructure.
It operates in 39 countries and has been involved in major projects, including the China-Laos Railway, Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway and Addis Ababa-Djibouti Railway.
The company’s representative, Mr Eason Zhang, said, “After this meeting, we will meet with Government ministries to discuss the details and push this project. We have to make it succeed.”
