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Desire Sibanda

Business Editor
A DELEGATION representing 40 South African companies will be in the country this week on an investment and trade mission aimed at cementing economic ties between the two neighbouring countries. South African Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Mzwandile Masina, leads the delegation, which will hold meetings with their local counterparts in Bulawayo, Harare and Gweru starting today.

“The delegation consists of companies operating in the agriculture and agro-processing, built environment professionals, oil and gas, mining and capital equipment, and electro-technical sectors,” the South African department of trade and industry said at the weekend.

According to the programme shown to Business Chronicle, deliberations start this morning in the capital at Rainbow Towers with opening remarks from the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion, Desire Sibanda.

Masina will share the stage with his Zimbabwean counterpart, Chiratidzo Mabuwa, Zimbabwe Ambassador to South Africa, Isaac Moyo and his South African counterpart, Vusi Mavimbela.

The president of the Business Council of Zimbabwe, Wonder Chabikwa, will make a presentation on the overview of the business environment in Zimbabwe while ZimTrade head, Sithembile Pilime, would dwell on the trade opportunities in the country.

Zimbabwe Investment Authority chief executive officer, Richard Mubaiwa, would highlight procedures and guidelines for investing in Zimbabwe. Tomorrow will be business to business meetings and question and answer segments on a wide range of trade and investment topics.

The delegation will be in Gweru on Wednesday to conduct the same business where it will meet the business community and Midlands Provincial Minister of State, Jason Machaya. In Bulawayo the programme will take place at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) grounds on Thursday starting at 8.45AM.

Bulawayo mayor, Martin Moyo, Association of Business Zimbabwe head, Lucky Mlilo and Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland Chamber president, Crispen Mugova, would make presentations on the business opportunities in the city and the potential of the small to medium enterprises.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president, Busisa Moyo, would delve into revitalising industries in Bulawayo, a city that has experienced de-industrialisation and loss of jobs in the last decade.