The Sunday News
News Editor
VICE-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has urged local businesses to seize opportunities that are being presented by Belarus to expand their horizon and create new synergies that help improve the economy.
In his key note address at Zimbabwe-Belarus Business Forum held at a local hotel in Bulawayo on Thursday, VP Chiwenga said Zimbabwe and Belarus was forging a close relationship which the business community must take advantage of.
“For the local private sector, here is an opportunity to expand your business horizon by organising yourselves to seize opportunities which present themselves, in terms of ancillary and complementary endeavours, such as the provision of manpower, accommodation, food, transport, spares and equipment servicing,” he said.
VP Chiwenga said Zimbabwe was committed to engage investors across the world to participate in various sectors of the economy.
“Through the Transitional Stabilisation Programme (TSP), running up to December 2020 and Vision 2030, the Government is implementing a number of development-oriented policy initiatives and productivity-enhancing structural reforms. Such reforms are critical for enhancing long-term, growth prospects and promoting a private sector driven economy, as well as improving the livings standards o the our people.”
Measures to deepen and quicken the ease and cost of doing business, added VP Chiwenga, are also being put in place.
Among them include the capacitating of the National Competitiveness commission which seeks to foster a competitive business environment, through development, coordination and implementation of key policy improvements, he said.
“In the same vein the establishment of the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency will usher in the processing of investments approvals within a day and significantly improve investments climate in the country, thereby stimulating employment creation and economic growth in line with goals of achieving a prosperous and empowered upper middle-income society by the year 2030.”
During the meeting, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce and Belarus Chamber of Commerce signed a memorandum of Understanding that seeks to increase business to business interaction between the two countries.
The MoU covered areas such as mining, science and technology and innovations, trade and economic co-operation, procurement of agro-equipment and supply of fertilizer.
A Zimbabwean business delegation will also visit Belarus in August to explore more opportunities.
In January, President Mnangagwa also visited Belarus where eight MoU were signed covering various sectors as the two countries continue to improve trade relations.
