Online Reporter
Kudzanai Sharara in Port Louis, Mauritius
The true measure of success for the Mauritius-Zimbabwe Investment and Trade Mission will be found in the ability to transform potential into actual investment, production, trade, jobs, and prosperity, Ms Josephine Takundwa, President of the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC), told delegates on Wednesday morning.
Speaking at the Caudan Arts Centre during the five-day Mauritius-Zimbabwe Investment and Trade Mission, jointly organised by ZNCC and the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Ms Takundwa emphasised that potential alone is not enough.
“We have immense resources, entrepreneurial talent, great markets, and a youthful population,” she said. “But the true measure of our success will not be found in our potential. It will be found in our ability to transform that potential into investment, production, trades, jobs, and prosperity for our people.”
The ZNCC President described Zimbabwe as a market of opportunities, with vast mineral resources, fertile land, strategic geographic positioning, and a resilient private sector. She noted that Zimbabwe is increasingly looking beyond traditional markets and seeking stronger commercial linkages across Africa and beyond.
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“We do believe Mauritius is a natural partner in this journey,” she said. “Mauritius has successfully positioned itself as the leading financial and investment hub connecting Africa to international markets.”
Ms Takundwa stressed that the forum is not an end in itself but a platform from which new partnerships must emerge. She encouraged delegates to move beyond the exchange of business cards and embark on concrete collaborations that produce measurable outcomes.
“It is enterprises that must drive trade. It is investors that must create industries. And it is entrepreneurs who must identify opportunities,” she said. “It is institutions such as ours that must build bridges between markets.”
She highlighted that discussions at the forum go beyond trade to encompass industrial partnerships, joint ventures, technology transfer, investment facilitation, and regional value chains. She also noted the historic opportunity presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area, which offers a market of more than 1.3 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding US$3,4 trillion.
“The private sector is not merely a participant in economic development. It is a key driver of economic transformation,” she said. “The opportunities before Zimbabwe and Mauritius are substantial. The challenge before us is to act decisively and collectively to realise them.”
Ms Takundwa encouraged delegates to actively engage in the B2B matchmaking sessions, networking events, and site visits scheduled throughout the mission. She also acknowledged all partners and institutions who worked to make the mission possible. The forum continues with a panel discussion on agro-processing and export development. The mission runs until 22 August.
