17 Oct 2012
The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Ms Elizabeth Thabethe says investment opportunities in Zimbabwe are in abundance and the onus is on business people from both countries to work together in turning them into tangible economic benefits. Thabethe was speaking at a business seminar attended by business people from South Africa and Zimbabwe in Harare yesterday.
The seminar marked the beginning of the fourth Investment and Trade Initiative (ITI) that Thabethe is leading to Zimbabwe where she arrived on Sunday accompanied by a business delegation of comprising forty business people.
“The fact that this is the third time that we are in Zimbabwe this year with different groups of business people means that we have identified the unlimited opportunities that exist in the Zimbabwean economy. The ITIs are part of the Department of Trade and Industry’s Export and Investment Promotion Strategy that focuses on targeted high growth markets with the objective of creating investment and export opportunities for the South African companies,” said Thabethe.
She added that South Africa was committed to contributing to the growth and development of the Zimbabwean economy, and urged business people from both countries to contribute by establishing joint ventures and exploring the countless opportunities available in Zimbabwe.
“As South Africa, we have recognised that Zimbabwe like many African economies has strategically positioned itself and is striving to provide enabling economic environment to attract the foreign direct investment (FDI), but also to reap the economic benefits that the FDIs can offer. The recently launched Zimbabwe Industrial Development Policy is one policy instrument that is poised to address the social and economic challenges. The policy will also give certainty to potential investors,” said Thabethe.
Enquiries:
Sidwell Medupe
Departmental Spokesperson
Tel: 012 394 1650
Cell: 079 492 1774
E-mail: [email protected]
Issued by: Department of Trade and Industry
17 Oct 2012