Story by Bruce Chahwanda
PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa has called on African nations to harness existing regional relations to drive innovation, modernisation, and industrialisation, as a catalyst for boosting intra-African trade.
He made the remarks while officially opening the 57th Eswatini International Trade Fair this Saturday, where local, regional, continental, and international companies showcased their products and services.
Addressing stakeholders, President Mnangagwa emphasised that Africa’s cultural heritage must serve as the foundation for economic modernisation and industrial advancement.
“At the core of the development of our continent is embracing our own culture, which is the soul and heartbeat of our nations. Preserving such cultural expressions is not only a duty to history but also a compass to guide future generations. It must form the strong base upon which we innovate and modernise our economies. The onus is on us all to harness the immense potential of our relations to drive innovation, modernisation, and industrialisation, as well as integration in SADC and the broader African Continental Free Trade Area. Your Majesty, I once again commend the strong people-to-people ties between Zimbabwe and Eswatini,” he said.
The President called on the private sectors of Zimbabwe and Eswatini to forge strategic partnerships and pursue joint venture opportunities across key sectors of the economy, emphasizing the importance of collaboration in driving mutual growth and development.
“I invite the private sector of both Zimbabwe and Eswatini to explore joint venture opportunities in agriculture, sugarcane production, mining, tourism, manufacturing, infrastructure development, renewable energy, and information technology, among others. We must equally nurture our entrepreneurs, empower the youth, and support our local investors to transform these sectors into engines of inclusive growth,” he noted.
Nations must continuously leverage the abundant natural resource endowments, science, and technology to deliver a higher quality of life for our peoples, which is anchored in our rich heritage and culture.
“The ingenuity of our young people, resilience of our women, and entrepreneurial spirit of our communities should be harnessed to create self-sufficiency and sovereignty in all aspects of our lives. We, the people of this region and respective jurisdictions, bear the responsibility to develop our economies and to answer the challenges of our times, such as climate change, health pandemics, and fluid global international relations. Additionally, opportunities presented by Artificial Intelligence and the science, technological, and innovation space, as well as green technologies, all present numerous prospects for the realisation of development that leaves no one and no place behind,” President Mnangagwa added.
The trade fair provides a vital platform for traders to showcase and promote their products and services to both local and international markets, supported by value-added initiatives like business conferences that enhance networking and growth opportunities.
