Story by Tafara Chikumira
THE government has launched the Midlands Province Investment Compendium, a document which spells out the investment opportunities in the province.
The document outlines the low-hanging fruits that lie in all the local authorities within the Midlands Province, thereby marketing the province to realise its full potential.
The government says investors should take advantage of the business operating environment obtained in the country and make meaningful investments.
“The launch of the Midlands Investment Compendium will be a new vehicle to provide a clear guideline to create new potential and investment in the region,” the Minister of Finance and Economic Development, Professor Mthuli Ncube said.
Deputy Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet, Mr Willard Manungo, said the investment conference comes at a good time when Zimbabwe is preparing to launch the National Development Strategy Two at the end of this year.
“This investment conference provides a good opportunity for you as a province to prepare for NDS 2 as we conclude NDS1 in December. You need to prepare strongly for foreign investors. We need foreign direct investment for us to move forward as a country,” he said.
The Minister of Energy and Power Development, Honourable July Moyo called for more investment in energy projects.
“There are vast opportunities in the energy sector. We are now going green and we would like investors to invest in solar energy and other power-generating projects.”
The Midlands Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Honourable Owen Ncube and ZANU PF Politburo member, Cde Andy Mhlanga urged investors to take advantage of the friendly investment policies that have been created by the Second Republic.
“The President is very clear that Zimbabwe is open for business, and we in the Midlands Province believe in this philosophy. We have removed all the bottlenecks, and if you find my officers or local authorities trying to throw spanners towards investments, my door is open,” Honourable Ncube said.
“We are happy to have such initiatives which are meant to drive the country’s economy forward. It is time people should put their money in meaningful investments as the President has opened up opportunities for those who dare to dream,” Cde Mhlanga noted.
The Midlands Investment Conference drew participants from the business fraternity who also took time to network and form business synergies.
