Bimha calls for more Africa-Russia deals
INDUSTRY and Commerce Minister Dr Mike Bimha has called for further partnerships between Russia and Africa to enable the continent to realise its potential and equally industrialise with the rest of the world.
Dr Bimha recently led a business delegation to the Russian International Industrial Trade Fair (INNOPROM) in Ekaterinburg, Russia where Zimbabwe was among a few African countries invited to participate. INNOPROM is a Russian fair that showcases industrial automation, component manufacturing, and technologies for material processing. The fair also offers a platform for business to business meetings with potential investors from Russia.
“There is potential for Russia to establish a foothold in Africa, which is pushing for an industrialisation agenda anchored on value-addition and beneficiation rather than mere production and export of raw commodities. I am calling for partnerships between Russia and Africa for mutual benefit to enable Africa to realise its full potential and equally industrialise and grow together with the rest of the world,” said Minister Bimha.
The Zimbabwe business delegation was comprised of ZimTrade, ZESA Enterprises, Chamber of Mines of Zimbabwe, and Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe. Minister Bimha participated as a panelist at the Russia-Africa forum business session held on July 11, 2017 together with Alemu Sime, Ethiopia’s State Minister of Industry and Russian Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade George Kalamanov.
The Russian-African Forum is a brainchild of the Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Russian Federation aimed at strengthening bilateral co-operation between Russia and Africa.
Minister Bimha invited potential investors from Russia to consider investment opportunities in Zimbabwe in various sectors including mining and mineral beneficiation, agriculture, agro-processing, agriculture mechanisation and irrigation infrastructure development and manufacturing.
He also paid tribute to the mega Russian investment in Zimbabwe, the Darwendale Platinum Project, which is currently underway.