SA firms keen to revive Bulawayo industry

SA firms keen to revive Bulawayo industry
Published: 23 April 2014
A SOUTH AFRICAN delegation yesterday met Bulawayo Mayor Councillor Martin Moyo seeking to create partnerships that could lead to the revival of local industries.

Speaking after a brief meeting, Clr Moyo said the visit by the delegation would yield good partnerships and relationships for the Bulawayo industry, business community and South Africa.

"Such a visit by the delegation will create partnerships which are going to see Bulawayo industries being revived as there are many investment opportunities in the city", he said.

"Bulawayo is a sleeping giant, there are heavy industries lying idle which provide great opportunities for business collaborations that will benefit both the investors and the city itself," he said.

A representative of the Durban Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dumile Cele said they had realised various opportunities for investment and were ready to grab them.

"We have identified a number of areas in which we can do business with the Bulawayo business community in different sectors of the economy," she said.

Cele said when they visited the country earlier this year they conducted a survey to have more details on the opportunities available.

"When we came here in February, we discovered that Bulawayo has vast opportunities for our business people, we went back and held a conference where we called on all businesses and companies who were willing to collaborate and invest in these opportunities in Bulawayo and the response was overwhelming," she said.

Cele said they had come again so that they create linkages between the companies in Durban and those in Bulawayo.

"Our mission here is actually to create linkages between the businesses so that they work in a conducive environment which will promote the growth and resuscitation of the city," she said.

Cele said in August the chamber would bring the companies and investors to meet with the business people in Bulawayo to make final arrangements on the collaborations.

"Bigger companies from across all sectors of the economy have shown interest in this initiative such as construction companies for the rehabilitation of roads, agriculture to increase production and ensure food security, mining and renewable energy companies who can provide alternatives to electricity to save power," said Cele.

The Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) is leading a group of South African companies to this year's Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF).

SA Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry Elizabeth Thabethe said export sales resulting from the participation at the fair as reported by South African companies amounted to R6.6m in 2011 and R7.1m in 2012.

Last year, South Africa was voted the best foreign exhibitor due to its quality and design.

Thabethe said the department was looking forward to assisting the companies to come back with increased knowledge about the Zimbabwean market, regional and international business contacts and export orders of more than R10m amongst other things.
- chronicle
Tags: Industry,

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