SA minister calls for investment in ‘improving’ Zimbabwe

The Deputy Minister of Trade and Industry, Elizabeth Thabethe, has urged South African business people to take advantage of the improving economic situation in Zimbabwe and invest in the neighbouring country. Thabethe was delivering a keynote address at a business seminar attended by more than 250 businesspeople at the Rainbow Towers Hotel in Harare, yesterday..
The seminar was part of the international investment and trade initiative currently being undertaken by the Department of Trade and Industry (the dti) in Zimbabwe. It began in Harare yesterday and will end in Bulawayo on Thursday. Thabethe is leading a delegation of business people.
“Zimbabwe has been carrying out economic and structural reforms, which have improved economic performance and sustained growth. Since 2009 Zimbabwe has had positive growth rates above 5% per annum, reaching 5.9% in 2010,” said Thabethe.
She added that investment in the development of infrastructure in Zimbabwe would have a high rate of return as it would lead to an increase in demand for manufactured and capital equipment.
Since 2003, South African companies have undertaken investment projects in Zimbabwe totalling more than R 10.87 billion. These projects have contributed to the creation of more than 2 000 jobs in the metals, minerals, tourism and financial services industries in Zimbabwe.