Let’s send chickens to China says Chimene

via Let’s send chickens to China says Chimene – The Zimbabwean 11 February 2015

The eastern border province is expected to twin with a Chinese state following the signing of a trade treaty between the two regions.

Provincial Affairs Minister Mandi Chimene disclosed the development during her keynote address at the launch of the Manicaland Agricultural Business Forum recently. The treaty will focus on agricultural products.

“Manicaland we are twinning you with Anhui Province in China. We have a treaty that we signed to trade with them. We don’t want to continue receiving products from them. Let’s plan what we should supply them so that we brief them during our next visit,” said Chimene, who is also the chairperson of the Zimbabwe-China Friendship Association.

“Let’s supply them with our chickens. As you might not be aware our foodstuff is in high demand in China because it is not genetically modified and we should take advantage of that,” she added.

Manicaland is one of the richest and most productive provinces in the country endowed with agro-products such as coffee, macadamia, tea, bananas, apples and sugarcane plantations.

“Our function is to ensure that agribusiness representative organisations play a constructive role in the province’s economic growth, development and transformation…and the trade facility offers a good opportunity for us,” said Enock Mbendani who chairs the Forum.

Zimbabwe has been reduced into a dumping zone for Chinese goods, triggering a ballooning import bill, which stands at $2,9 billion.