HARARE The Zimbabwe Investment Promotion Centre (ZIPC) has said local companies in the agro-industry shouldThe three-day meeting starting on June 6 this year in South Africa, would present potential international investors, the majority from the European Union and entrepreneurs in the 14 Southern African countries, the opportunity to meet on a one-on-one basis.
The forum, the result of cooperation between the EU, SADC, and the EU-Southern Africa Investment Promotion Programme, would be held under the theme harvesting business and investment opportunities in southern Africa. ZIPC Chief Executive Officer Tonderai Chigama said there was huge potential to attract investment in the sector.
The agro-industry is one of the priority sectors that we have targeted for investment promotion as there is a huge potential to attract investment. Now that business people are beginning to have hope with the economy, it therefore means that Zimbabweans will now have the opportunity to partner with foreign investors to develop agriculture-based projects
to stimulate increased production in this sector, he said.
Chigama said partnership arrangements that local businesses could clinch included equity investments, joint ventures, marketing arrangements and technical assistance in various areas such primary production of food and cash crops and value addition activities. He said more than 100 potential investors and 100 southern African companies were expected to take part.
Co-operatives and farmers associations would be considered.
The companies would be required to meet various quality certifications before they could export to the EU, said Chigama. While investors were in most cases looking for companies that could supply them with raw materials, Chigama said it was possible that investments could be made in companies producing for local and regional markets.
Post published in: Economy