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NewsDay

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Ministers to take advantage of London investment forum

Business
ZIMBABWEAN ministers will use an investment forum in London next month to articulate a framework for joint ventures and allay fears of investors on indigenisation legislation, the organisers have said.

ZIMBABWEAN ministers will use an investment forum in London next month to articulate a framework for joint ventures and allay fears of investors on indigenisation legislation, the organisers have said.

BY NDAMU SANDU

Mike Bimha

A high- powered delegation led by Industry and Commerce minister Mike Bimha will take part at the Zimbabwe Trade and Investment Forum on September 22 as the country steps up efforts to lure foreign investors.

The forum will be held at international law firm Stephenson Harwood LLP offices.

Other ministers that will attend the forum are Simon Khaya-Moyo (Economic Planning and Investment Promotion) and Obert Mpofu (Transport and Infrastructure Development).

Other speakers billed to attend are Zimbabwe Investment Authority CEO Richard Mbaiwa, Homelink board chairman Moris Mpofu, Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Busisa Moyo, Zimbabwe Stock Exchange CEO Alban Chirume and former Mwana Africa CEO Kalaa Mpinga.

“The ministers will be looking to articulate the framework for joint ventures and value-addition initiatives and engage with investors and their views. They will also de-mystify the indigenisation and economic empowerment programme, highlighting the win-win partnerships that the Zimbabwe government is promoting,” said organisers of the forum, CMG International Media Group.

The delegation will also meet representatives of the Zimbabwe Diaspora Community to encourage them to actively contribute towards the country’s economic development.

CMG International Media Group — Zimbabwean Business Impresario Louis Charema, told NewsDay participants would be drawn from the UK investment community that include private equity firms, investment advisors, investment bankers, hedge fund and asset managers and legal advisors.

Participants will also be drawn from infrastructure development companies, investment banks and private investors or high net worth individuals.

Zimbabwe has been warming up to investors with the British Embassy in Harare urging British companies to consider investing in Zimbabwe as there were “encouraging signs that the government is softening its stance on indigenisation and developing more investor-friendly policies”.

In a monthly report for June, the British Embassy in Harare said the policy shift offered UK companies an opportunity to increase trade and investment.

“A number of international firms, particularly but not only from BRICS [Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa] countries have begun to make serious investment into Zimbabwe given high return opportunities,” the embassy said. Two UK trade missions visited Zimbabwe in 2014 and early this year to scout for investment opportunities.

Last month, the British Embassy in Harare, in collaboration with Standard Chartered, held a two-day capacity building workshop for public and private sector specialists in Public Private Partnerships implementation.