Bulawayo, (New Ziana)-Indian investors have invested more than USD$ 600 million in various industries, resulting in the creation of more than 15 000 direct and indirect employment to local youth in the country.
Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Bramha Kumar, said this on Thursday while officiating at the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation(ITEC) Alumni Meet in Bulawayo.
The Meet brought together senior government officials , ITEC Alumni from Bulawayo, Lupane, Gwanda and surrounding areas, as well as media representatives.
It was the first time the Meet was held in the Matebeleland region as over the past, the embassy has celebrated ITEC days and interactions in the capital Harare.
“Our bilateral trade is also increasing gradually, touching US$260 million during the last financial year. Zimbabwe also appreciates India for her consistent humanitarian assistance in times of need including the donation of 1,000 MT of rice last year,” said Kumar.
Under India’s initiative, Kumar said, a US$1 million grant project announced in 2021 from the India-United Nations Development Partnership Fund for climate resilient agriculture in the districts of Chiredzi and Mangwe, was completed and delivered.
“I take the pleasure to inform you that the work on Deka Pumping and River Water Intake System on the Zambezi River, with the help of government of India’s line of credit of US$ 48.1 million has been completed and commissioned in August last year,” he said.
The Deka Pumping and River Water Intake System is a project to supply water from the Zambezi River to the Hwange Power Station with the system including a 42km pipeline and upgrades to the pumping station and river intake to increase raw water capacity, which is crucial for power generation and the town of Hwange.
It was financed by the Indian government and has been a key part of improving the power station’s water supply, especially for its expansion.
Turning to the Meet program, Kumar explained that the interaction with ITEC alumni from time to time gives a chance to bring all ITEC Scholars together and to learn their experiences in India.
He recalled the excellent and historical people-to-people contacts between India and Zimbabwe from the time of the Munhumutapa kingdom, a powerful African empire that existed in southern Africa from the mid-15th to the mid-17th century.
Kumar also highlighted that capacity building was an important pillar of development partnership with India, noting that as part of the government-to-government collaboration, India offers more than 250 scholarships to Zimbabwe under the Indian Technical & Economic Cooperation (ITEC) program.
“Separately, ICCR has also offered around 56 fully funded courses (for PhD and Post Graduate courses in various fields) in the past five years. This year, ICCR has announced 10 such scholarships for Zimbabwe and are fully utilized,” he said.
He further said the government of Zimbabwe sent 71 officers to attend the Train-the-Trainer program organized by Centurion University, Bhubaneshwar.
During the Meet, the ITEC Alumni fondly remembered their pleasant stay in India and shared their experiences while applicants who are leaving for ITEC courses in India, also learned from the experiences of those who have already been there.
New Ziana
