Sundaymail Editor
Victoria Ruzvidzo
Its less than 24 hours to the Zimbabwe-Rwanda Investment and trade conference in Kigali and with it comes a plethora of business opportunities for both countries, especially for Zimbabwe.
This is about taking economic diplomacy to the next level. Zimbabwe is indeed open for business.
And this all falls under the engagement and re-engagement thrust adopted by the Government to build and consolidate relations with other countries and international institutions.
As an economy that is on a growth trajectory, opportunities such as the impeding conference must be seized with both hands.
Rwanda is one of the fastest growing economies, not only in Africa, but in the world and the upcoming conference will give an opportunity to explore its market and expedite the growth of our own economy.
A survey conducted by ZimTrade in Rwanda a few months ago revealed immense trade and investment opportunities that Zimbabwe should larch onto to grow exports and enjoy attendant benefits.
Growing exports is a key result area under the National Development Strategy 1.
For a country that is known for the raving wars it has had to endure, Rwanda has done an exceptional job in rebuilding its economy, stabilising it and more than that, making it a force to reckon with on the world economic stage.
The 1994 war did extensive damage to the economy, human resource base, infrastructure and any growth that was enjoyed hitherto.
But its economy has rebound in no less than spectacular fashion with developments in agriculture, health, education, ICT, mining and most major economic sectors.
All these are sectors in which we can improve ourselves, though, commendably a lot has been and is being done to achieve economic targets in all crucial sectors of the economy.
The Rwandan economy grew by an average of 7 percent from 2010 to 2018 and breached the 10 percent mark in 2019. These are impressive figures anywhere on the globe and has put the economy among those to watch out for.
Of course Zimbabwe is this year managing a 7,8 percent economic growth figure, a significant if not miraculous rise that only exposes the potential this country has.
Such meetings as these are critical in consolidating this growth.
Zimbabwe is set to benefit immensely from discussions, deliberations and decisions accruing there of. Rwanda is one of the safest destinations for personal visits or investment and this is a remarkable achievement for a country best know for the war that ravaged its land.
But now Rwanda is writing a new narrative and the progress made is there for all to see, with critical sectors enjoying success and exhibiting potential for even more growth.
Herein lies the opportunity for Zimbabwe, and benefits arising from such a conference can never be over- emphasised. The Rwandan economy not only offers great opportunities for developing our own, but creates a gateway into surrounding economies of East Africa. Most of them are now relying heavily on economic trade with Rwanda.
Countries such as Tanzania, Uganda Burundi and the DRC are presently enjoying economic interaction with Rwanda.
Rwanda comes with massive growth and expansion opportunities, very few countries can offer.
Not exempted from the Covid-19 pandemic, their rebound under such challenging circumstances, the toughest, in modern times, has not gone unnoticed by economists and investors alike and companies, institutions and nations are making a beeline to tap into this ever growing economy.
Our own economy has been undergoing steady growth and bilateral agreements like this one will surely catapult the economy further up the growth path that we are presently enjoying.
Of paramount importance is the need to leave no stone unturned in getting the most out of our increased economic interaction with Rwanda How do we get our products and services to Rwanda without incurring the huge costs that come with distance and costs that her neighbouring countries enjoying business with Rwanda do not have to fork out because of their favourable geographic proximity?
How do we maximise on this great opportunity to learn, to export, to expand and to grow our economy without going beyond the continent for such opportunities?
These are questions we ought to answer as we go into this conference and as an economy with high ambition. We ought not be caught flat-footed when a window such as this has been opened to drive our own economy forward and better the livelihood of our citizens.
As a nation we have a lot to learn from the Rwandan story, but we also have a lot to offer to them and they too need to maximise on this conference no less than ourselves.
We may not be enjoying many rave reviews world wide like Rwanda, but rest assured, as we explore economic opportunities in that country, they too will learn a thing or two from us.
They could, should and probably will use the wealth of knowledge we have in agriculture, mining and other major sectors of the economy to their advantage.
Lessons that will hold them in good stead as they seek to defy all odds and make their economy one of Africa’s biggest.
They too, have been ravaged by covid-19, they too have been faced with seemingly insurmountable challenges and they too have borne the brunt of a civil war that has squeezed the nation of its best minds, best assets and best resources, but unlike other struggling economies, wilting under the global, economic pressures, Rwanda is waving the African flag very high and turning problems into challenges, into victories and into achievements that will bring the kind of development a country as well endowed with resources as Rwanda should.
A few months ago ZimTrade chief executive Mr Allan Majuru wrote in his column hosted by this paper that Rwanda, as with other African economies, is a low-hanging fruit that Zimbabwe needs to pick.
He expressed great optimism and we believe it is that optimism that every delegate should carry as they make their way to Kigali.
Mr Majuru lamented the low trade levels between the two countries, but thank God a golden opportunity to redress this has been provided. Let us not waste it.
Of course Rwanda is endowed with spectacular sites and monuments, but these will not precede the need to hold meetings and sign deals. The next five days should see Government representatives and the private sector sweat in their quest to grow Zimbabwe’s markets.
Already four agreements were signed in March and more will be signed this week between the two countries.
The delegation should return home pregnant with deals to consolidate our growth trajectory. The business-to-business meetings scheduled over the next few days should yield much. Rwanda is willing. So is Zimbabwe.
Let the good times roll.
In God I Trust!!
Twitter handle: @VictoriaRuzvid2; Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; WhatsApp number: 0772 129 972.
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