Story by Stanley James
ZIMBABWE’S agriculture sector continues to capture the interest of international partners, with Belarus expressing renewed commitment to deepen cooperation, driven by the ongoing mechanisation and industrialisation projects.
A Belarus business delegation which has been in the country since Monday for the Mid-Term Review of a Joint Permanent Commission on Cooperation with Zimbabwe, toured a local company owned by the Belarus Government, Bison Agro-Machinery.
Belarus Vice Prime Minister and Head of the delegation, Mr Viktar Karankevich revealed interest in more agriculture mechanisation and industrialisation projects.
“This visit marks another milestone as we seek to cement our ties and review the existing relations, the agriculture sector remains a top priority in the short to long term,” he said.
The government has also lauded Belarus’ commitment to invest in Zimbabwe.
“The projects from Belarus have further scaled up the level of the agriculture sector which is a key enabler of the economy. Their interest in further investing in machinery including tractors is a welcome development,” the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Water, Fisheries and Rural Development Professor Obert Jiri stated.
“Industrialisation is a key component for overall industrial growth so riding on that, increased cooperation will further boost collaboration,” the Minister of Industry and Commerce Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu added.
Belarus has availed thousands of tractors and combine harvesters to Zimbabwe under various phases of the two governments’ partnership and the Mid-Term Review of the Zimbabwe- Belarus JPCC which ends on Wednesday is expected to consolidate bilateral ties between the two countries.
