via UK invests $7m in public-private dialogue | The Herald February 10, 2016
THE United Kingdom government, through the Department for International Development’s Business Enabling Environment programme, has invested more than $7 million in investment climate reform and public-private dialogue programme in Zimbabwe.
The programme provides detailed analysis of key issues facing business environment reforms in Zimbabwe focused on financial and agri-business sectors.
“The programme will explore openings for progressive policy reforms and ensure that any reforms undertaken are sustainable, by building the capacity of key public and private stakeholders to manage these processes over the long term,” British Ambassador to Zimbabwe Ms Catriona Laing said yesterday.
Ms Laing was addressing a Public Private Partnership training at Deloitte Head Office held on Monday at the behest of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development.
She said the British government is keen to promote trade between the two countries.
Addressing the same programme, Acting Secretary for Finance and Economic Development Mr Zvinechimwe Churu said PPPs can bring real advantages to the country such as additional funding, efficiency of infrastructure management and service provision and greater opportunities for economic activity and mutual learning.
“In view of our limited budgetary resources the infrastructure bottlenecks we face continue to put a premium on our development potential.
“In this regard, the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation proposes Joint Ventures as an alternative financing model to be used in enhancing public infrastructure provision,’ said Mr Churu.
Parliament has since passed the Joint Ventures bill which is awaiting Presidential assent.
The PPPs training programme drew participants from the private sector, senior Government officials, Deloitte and other stakeholders.
The training programme aims to enhance Zimbabwe’s ability to use PPPs, expedite the implementation of infrastructure projects and promote exports of UK technical expertise and to assist Government to operationalise national priority projects in Zim-Asset.
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