daniel chigunwe
Daniel Chigunwe
Herald Correspondent
The Zimbabweans in Diaspora Organisation (ZIDO) has partnered the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade on its UK-Zimbabwe Business Expo and Investment Summit in Birmingham on October 2 and 3.
The event will bring together Zimbabwean entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, policymakers and business leaders to promote investment, skills, technology and market access.
ZIDO chairperson, Mr Blessed Kapesa, said the partnership would strengthen the Government’s engagement with Zimbabweans abroad and broaden diaspora participation beyond remittances.
“The diaspora is not just a community of Zimbabweans living outside the country. We regard the diaspora as Zimbabwe’s 11th province because of the economic, intellectual, professional and entrepreneurial resources that our people abroad possess,” he said.
Mr Kapesa said Zimbabweans abroad had valuable expertise, capital, technology and international networks that could support national development.
The expo will focus on creating commercial links between Zimbabwe and the diaspora, helping investors identify opportunities, understand regulations and connect with local businesses and institutions.
“We want to create an ecosystem where the Government provides the policy and institutional framework, while the private sector and diaspora entrepreneurs drive investment and business partnerships,” he said.
The event will also help Zimbabwean businesses access international markets, particularly in the United Kingdom, while connecting diaspora investors with local opportunities.
Mr Kapesa said the ministry’s involvement would give diaspora engagement greater institutional depth and integrate it into Zimbabwe’s economic diplomacy.
“The diaspora must be seen as a development partner. If we can organise our people, connect them to opportunities and provide the right institutional support, the contribution can be much bigger than what we are seeing today,” he said.
He said the “11th province” concept was both symbolic and practical, emphasising that Zimbabweans abroad remained part of the country’s development story.
With Government joining the October platform, expectations are high that the Birmingham summit will deepen links between Zimbabwe’s economic diplomacy and diaspora investment agenda.
Online Reporter