Story by Stanley James, Business Editor
THE Government has expressed satisfaction with the progress of the Afreximbank US$100 million African Trade Centre in Harare, which is expected to be completed by September this year.
A tour of the construction site by the Special Advisor to the President on Monitoring Implementation of Government Programmes, Dr Joram Gumbo, revealed advanced construction works.
The government is upbeat that the project will be finalised within the set time frames.
“This magnificent Afreximbank African Trade Centre is a flagship development that demonstrates what is possible when African institutions unite behind a shared vision for growth and self-reliance beyond the physical structure. This investment has generated hundreds of jobs, empowered local contractors and suppliers and positioned Zimbabwe firmly on the map as a premier destination for trade and investment facilitation in Southern Africa,” Dr Gumbo said.
The trade centre which will also house a hotel, offices and conference centre, among others, is anticipated to fulfil the government’s aspirations of modern infrastructure.
“With a total investment of over US$100 million, this project once complete will house a 550-capacity conference centre a world-class 119 room hotel and supporting infrastructure designed to host both regional and international businesses, a move that will transform the landscape of Harare,” Afreximbank African Trade Centre, Client Representative, Mr Tonderai Mjungwa said.
“Through projects like this we are on course to reduce to room or accommodation deficit in the country to the extent that such a move will have positive effects in attracting more tourists and thereby fulfil our vision to have more foreign visitors and earn the nation hard currency critical to sustain development,” the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Dr Takaruza Munyanyiwa said.
Afreximbank, a multilateral financier in which Zimbabwe has a shareholding, continues to be an all-weather partner of the government after availing more than US$1 billion in grants and loans to support Zimbabwe’s fiscal, monetary and development systems.
