Highly subscribed investment forum to accelerate SADC economic growth and development
HARARE – The Ministry of Industry and Commerce, in collaboration with the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), Southern African Development Community (SADC) Secretariat, and the SADC Business Council, will convene the highly anticipated Investment Forum on Monday (July 29).
The Investment Forum will be held on the sidelines of the 7th Annual SADC Industrialisation Week (SIW), a platform dedicated to fostering intra-African trade and regional investment. This year’s SIW, like its predecessors, is expected to attract key stakeholders and policymakers from across the continent.
Running under the theme “Promoting Innovation to Unlock Opportunities for Sustainable Economic Growth and Development Towards an Industrialised SADC,” the Investment Forum will bring together investment promotion agencies, industrial development corporations, and sovereign wealth funds from SADC member countries under one roof.
The forum will be officially opened by the Vice President, Dr. Constantino Chiwenga, who will set the tone for an engaging and fruitful discussion.
Industry and Commerce Permanent Secretary Thomas Utete Wushe said collaborated mobilisation efforts particularly from Zimbabwe’s ambassadors to the region had attracted a huge number of delegates to the week-long conference. “Over 1 800 delegates are expected to attend the conference including foreign investors and key business groupings from outside the SADC region.”
Notably, the Investment Forum has attracted high-profile investors from both the SADC region and the global arena. Ten investment promotion agencies from SADC member countries, along with over four industrial development corporations, will actively participate in the event. Additionally, sovereign wealth funds from the region, including the Rwanda Development Board, Rwanda Mines Board, and Gasabo Gold Refinery, will also be in attendance.
The Investment Forum is set to host a delegation from Turkey, led by Volkan Kazova, Chairman of DEİK (Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey). DEİK, a prominent Turkish trade organization, aims to advance business diplomacy and foreign economic policies of the Turkish private sector. Furthermore, Zhao Xin and thirteen other esteemed investors from China will grace the event with their presence. Egypt’s Dr. Sherif El-Gabaly, a leading figure in chemical engineering and fertiliser production, will also attend, along with Fathi Shabana from Algeria. A delegation from Ghana with interest in the fertiliser sector is also expected in the country.
Wushe said the convergence of industry leaders will provide a unique opportunity to explore potential collaborations and partnerships.
The event has attracted sponsorship from regional institutions; the African Development Bank as the platinum sponsor and Afreximbank. Leading local companies that have also sponsored the SIW include Innscor Africa, Liquid Zimbabwe, Econet Wireless Zimbabwe and Old Mutual.
Distinguished speakers from Zimbabwe, the region, and around the world will share their expertise and insights during the Investment Forum. Notably, Fatou Haidara, the UNIDO Deputy to the Director-General and Managing Director of the Directorate of Global Partnerships and External Relations, will address the audience. Dr. Gainmore Zanamwe from the Afreximbank will present on interventions to promote and facilitate investment in Africa, while Fambaoga Myambo will speak on spatial development initiatives. This visionary project aims to establish railway, road, and high-speed internet connectivity from Beira to Harare, extending to Botswana and Walvis Bay.
The Investment Forum promises to be a dynamic and transformative event, offering a platform for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration. As the region moves towards sustainable economic growth and development, this gathering of industry leaders will undoubtedly pave the way for a prosperous future.
-finx
