Vic Falls set to boom as China seals massive investment deals

MATABELELAND North, particularly the greater Victoria Falls community is poised for massive growth driven by bilateral relations with China.

On Monday and Tuesday, the city hosted a delegation from Shandong Province in China which was in the province to explore areas of potential partnership and investment between the two provinces.

The delegation met various stakeholders, including the Provincial Affairs Minister Richard Moyo, local authorities, Government departments and other stakeholders in Victoria Falls before visiting Hwange on a further look and learn and tourism expedition.

Yesterday, Victoria Falls hosted a delegation from the city of Linfen in Shanxi Province for an Impression Linfen economic, trade and cultural exchange which saw three Memoranda of Understanding being signed between the city and some Chinese businesses that are already established in the province.

The cultural exchange is held annually in Zimbabwe with facilitation by Wild Africa Travel, a Victoria Falls-based tour operator. Linfen is a traditional Chinese city, which already has a twinning arrangement with Victoria Falls City. The partnership was established because the two cities share similar iconic water bodies, the Zambezi River and the Yellow River.

Through Wild Africa Travel, Victoria Falls has established a huge market in China for business, tourism, mining, culture and investment, which dovetails with the Second Republic’s philosophy “Zimbabwe is open for business.”

Several exchange visits have been made between stakeholders in Victoria Falls and Linfen to promote tourism and investment.

Wild Africa Travel operations manager, Ms Yvonne Luphahla said they established relations with Linfen City in 2017, which has led to the establishment of some Chinese businesses in Zimbabwe.

“The cultural exchange programme brings tourism, business and investors, together for bilateral relations. They always hold cultural events here and the last we had was in 2019 because of Covid-19. This one is a resumption of the annual event,” she said.

The event was characterised by a performance by traditional dance groups from Victoria Falls and Linfen City as both showcased the power of culture in driving tourism.

Secretary for the Linfen Municipal Committee Mr Li Yunfeng said: “I am very happy to gather with all my friends in the beautiful Victoria Falls to hold the Impression Linfen economic, trade and cultural exchange activity together.”

“In today’s exchange activities, we not only brought literary and artistic performances with oriental cultural heritage and local characteristics of Linfen but also signed a number of co-operation projects to further promote mutual understanding, deepen friendship, promote co-operation and win-win results,” he said.

Mr Li said the event and twinning arrangement are an extension of relations created by the two countries and further deepening of cooperation.

“This visit is taking advantage of the increasingly close relationship between the two countries and two provinces to thoroughly implement President Xi Jinping’s major deployment.”

Linfen is located in the middle reaches of the Yellow River, in the south-west of Shanxi Province and is a tourist attraction with its world’s largest yellow waterfall, Hukou Waterfall.

Since 2022, the city’s GDP growth rate has continued to lead the province. Acting Victoria Falls mayor Councillor Priscilla Mhlanga reiterated the importance of the partnership, saying it is important to foster unity while promoting growth in Victoria Falls.

The event was attended by various stakeholders from both the public and private sectors.-chroncile