Zimbabwe, Belarus businesses challenged to take advantage of strong ties

Harare, (New Ziana) -Zimbabwean and Belarusian businesses should take advantage of the existing strong bilateral relations between the two countries to explore the various opportunities in the different economic sectors, President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said.

He said this in a speech read on his behalf by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga at the Zimbabwe-Belarus business forum in the capital on Monday.

President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe is a competitive jurisdiction and is part of the enlarged single African market of over one billion people through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCTA).

“With regards to developments taking place at the continental level, our Belarusian counterparts are invited to note that there is no other time to invest in Zimbabwe than now,” he said.

He urged Zimbabwean companies to take advantage of relations with Belarus to penetrate the Eurasia region and other emerging markets.

President Mnangagwa expressed optimism that the meeting was a building block and a significant step towards strengthening the two countries’ unshakeable bilateral relations.

“Let us remain focused and continue to work hard as we journey towards our shared vision of economic prosperity and a sustainable future for generations to come,” he said.

He said Zimbabwe stands ready to welcome and facilitate more investors from Belarus in various sectors including agriculture, mining, manufacturing and infrastructure development, adding that strong and sustainable partnerships in these areas will go a long way in improving the quality of life of the people while helping to modernise and industrialise the two economies.

Zimbabwe’s abundant and diverse natural resource base including its youthful and productive population, as well as strategic location in the Southern African region essentially presented it as a profitable investment destination, he explained.

“I call upon Belarusian businesses to tap into these existing opportunities whilst we seek to benefit from your expertise in the area of technology and innovation for the mutual benefit of our two countries and peoples,” said President Mnangagwa.

He said high level visits between the two countries will continue to be exchanged in an effort to deepen their bilateral relations.

President Mnangagwa noted that his Belarusian counterpart, Aleksander Lukashenko conducted a State visit to Zimbabwe in January last year when various Treaties and Memoranda of Understanding were signed, including the Bilateral Investment Treaty between the two countries.

He expressed optimism that the discussions would broaden efforts and horizons beyond fostering business engagements and cooperation, but to increase trade, innovation, technology development and knowledge transfer.

New Ziana