Source: The Herald – Breaking news.
Professor Kudakwashe Taruberekera Business Reporter
Prominent businessman Professor Kudakwashe Taruberekera has been invited by the United Arab Emirates government’s Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure to attend the Middle East Energy Conference as a guest.
Professor Taruberekera, who is the founder and chief executive of a leading land development, civil works and building construction company, Craft Properties Holdings, says he will use the conference to pursue initiatives and partnerships to advance the country’s vision of becoming an upper middle-income society by 2030.
He said his main focus at this year’s Middle East Energy Conference will be to engage and persuade prominent foreign investors in the energy sector to consider investing in Zimbabwe.
“Business conferences are pivotal for anyone serious about their professional growth.
“They offer a special setting for growth, learning, and connection. For business people, these events are more than just gatherings; they are opportunities to gain new insights, network with industry leaders, and stay ahead of the curve,” said Professor Taruberekera.
The Middle East Energy Conference will be held from April 7 to April 9, 2024 at the Dubai World Trade Centre.
The main agenda of the conference is to explore the latest advancements within the energy sector, innovations and solutions shaping the energy sector.
It will be attended by over 1 600 exhibitors from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, India, and Turkey.
In addition to the Middle East Energy Conference, Professor Taruberekera will also attend the Battery Show Conference, which will be led by professional industry leaders exploring the latest advancements in battery technologies, sustainable value chains, and green transportation innovations.
Professor Taruberekera hailed the Government’s support to the private sector, saying Zimbabwe has created a conducive environment to do business for both local and foreign investors, particularly through the practical implementation of the Public Private Partnership (PPP)”.
Meanwhile, Professor Taruberekera, before attending the Middle East Energy Conference, will first travel to New York, United States, at the invitation of the United Nations to attend the Business Leadership Dialogue: Beijing +30, Through a Private Sector Lens, to be held on the March 11, 2025, at The Yale Club in New York City.
“On the sidelines of the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, the United Nations Global Compact will convene business leaders, policy experts, and changemakers from across the globe to exchange views and candidly discuss the various levers the private sector can pull to promote gender equality and the empowerment of women,” he said.
Professor Taruberekera also noted that this year’s conference in Dubai would take place in the same month as Zimbabwe’s Independence celebrations, Easter holidays, his birthday on April 14, and Craft Properties’ 17th Anniversary. As such, he said April would be a very important and busy month for him and his organisation.
“We will join the people of Zimbabwe in remembering the sacrifices made by the gallant fighters of Zimbabwe to gain independence,” he said.
In the recent past, Professor Taruberekera has received invitations to travel to Europe, United States and Asia, among other continents to attend critical global conferences and summits.
Last year, he was invited to attend the Global Artificial Intelligence (AI) Show in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, as a VIP.
Professor Taruberekera said last year’s global AI show was held under the patronage of Omar Sultan Al Olam, the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications, and Mohamed Al Kuwait, the head of cybersecurity in the UAE government, where he was designated a keynote speaker.
Craft Properties Holdings is also involved in various philanthropic work across the country and recently completed the construction of two leaning blocks, a block of flashing system toilets, and drilled an 85-metre borehole at Easteria Primary School in Chakari Kadoma.
He said the decision was guided by the group’s commitment to support Zimbabwe’s education sector. The investment is a significant step towards ensuring quality and equitable access to education across Zimbabwe, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG4).
Professor Taruberekera said the company would soon embark on a similar project in Kariba to construct a primary school to be handed over to the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education as a way of assisting the community.
Furthermore, the company recently donated 10 wheelchairs to the city of Kadoma.
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