Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Cde Owen NcubeWallace Ruzvidzo, Herald Reporter
AS a signatory to China’s Belt and Road Initiative, Zimbabwe anticipates deeper and extensive cooperation with the Asian country in economic development, Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Owen Ncube, has said.
Speaking at the 7th China International Import Expo 2024 International Trade and Economic Globalisation Forum as a foreign guest speaker in Shanghai, Minister Ncube said Zimbabwe was committed to continuous upscaling of relations with China.
“Accordingly, allow me therefore to commend President Xi Jinping for passionately spearheading strong beneficial South-South Cooperation and through tangible development exhibited programmes and projects underpinned by our shared history dating back to the days of our liberation struggle and desire for mutual respect, global development and prosperity,” he said.
“On behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe, its resilient, peaceful and hardworking people and indeed on my own behalf, allow me to heartily thank our hosts, the Preparatory Committee of the 2024 international Trade and Economic Globalisation Forum and the People’s Republic of China for creating a conducive environment to strengthen people to people experiences, benchmark relationships, share engender development matrices and multilateralism.
“Since its inception in November 2017, the Second Republic of Zimbabwe under His Excellency the President and current SADC Chairman Cde Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, introduced bold and strategic policy decisions to modernise and industrialise the Zimbabwean economy which has been under siege for decades from illegal economic sanctions by our erstwhile detractors.”
Minister Ncube said Zimbabwe continues to seek to explore multilateral collaboration for shared development.
He said bolstered by the engagement and re-engagement policy that entrenches the mantra, “Friend to all and enemy to none”, the economy has been opened up to domestic and foreign investment to accelerate attainment of an upper middle-income society earlier than 2030.
“We are indeed inspired by lessons from the People’s Republic of China’s miraculous economic growth of becoming the world’s second largest economy in a record, shortest period of time,” Minister Ncube said.
Zimbabwe’s economic recovery and growth agenda, he said, is heavily underpinned by a number of comparative advantages that include abundant mineral deposits that include gold, antimony, diamonds, lithium, iron, chrome and huge gas deposits.
Further, it has a favourable climate, fertile and arable land and is a leading producer of high quality tobacco and cotton.
The country also has opportunities for beneficiation of mineral deposits and agricultural produce.
Minister Ncube added that since Zimbabwe is a member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), investing in the country allows the companies a gateway into the market with over 1,2 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding US$3,4 trillion. In addition, Zimbabwe is a member and current Chairperson of SADC, which offers a market of 365 million people.
Minister Ncube also encouraged investors to consider investment opportunities in the Midlands province.
“The province is the pinnacle, heartbeat and resource centre of Zimbabwe and offers unlimited investment opportunities in mining, agriculture, manufacturing, construction and tourism, among several other low hanging fruits,” he said.
The Midlands has a lot of platinum, gold and nickel reserves, among other opportunities.
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