The Honourable Minister of Industry and Commerce, Dr Sekai I. Nzenza has encouraged Russian business players to invest in heavy machinery in Zimbabwe to further strengthen the country’s Agriculture Mechanization Programme which has the potential to boost trade and the economies of the two countries and the whole continent.

Hon Dr Nzenza made the remarks in a speech read on her behalf by Dr Mavis Sibanda, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce during the Zimbabwe-Sverdlovsk Region of the Federation of Russia Joint Meeting at Munhumutapa Building in Harare recently.

“…the Government’s Agriculture Mechanisation Programme is reaching high momentum and some of the equipment is being Imported from Russia and other Euro-Asian countries.

“…our sincere hope is that we will have more Russian business players coming to set up assembly plants for machinery and equipment here in Zimbabwe, a country that is strategically positioned to service the whole of Southern Africa and beyond.

“Zimbabwe is a member of the AfCFTA which presents an opportunity for any company to produce here and export to any part of Africa duty-free”, said Hon Dr Nzenza.

She also expressed hope on the Russia-Zimbabwe Business council which is on cards that it would promote investment and export opportunities for the two countries.

“The formation of a Russia-Zimbabwe Business Council is in the pipeline and this initiative will definitely go a long way in enhancing the level of economic cooperation between our two countries.

“It is our fervent hope, that the Russia-Zimbabwe Business Council will help foster synergies amongst private sectors as they explore and harness business and investment opportunities that are in Zimbabwe and Russia”, she said.

The Russian delegation also expressed their readiness to get the ball rolling in promoting investment in Zimbabwe.

These sentiments were expressed by Hon Igor Zelenkin, the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade of the Sverdlovsk region of the Russian Federation who immediately promised that the Sverdlovsk region of the Russian Federation would help Zimbabwe in many different areas such as employment creation, training and establishment of new businesses among others.

“We are ready to invest in Zimbabwe. We are going to create new factories, establish joint ventures with subsequent transfer of technologies as well as train professionals in Zimbabwe among others”, said Hon Zelenkin.

The Minister of Foreign Economic Relations, Hon Yarin Vyacheslav also expressed the desire of the government of the Russian Federation to support Zimbabwe’s industrialization drive.

“The Sverdlovsk region of the Russian Federation will provide the equipment and other assistance that Zimbabwe require for its industry”, said Hon Vyacheslav.