Preps for Byo international investment indaba on

Economy
PREPARATIONS for the ZNCC Matabeleland Chapter’s international trade and investment conference set for next month are on course.

PREPARATIONS for the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce (ZNCC) Matabeleland Chapter’s international trade and investment conference set for next month are on course, an official has said.

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ZNCC Matabeland Chapter vice-president Roland Makaure told Southern Eye Business yesterday that preparations for the conference were almost finalised.

The indaba, expected to draw about 600 local and international delegates from over 18 African countries, has been pencilled in for February 12-13 in Bulawayo.

“We are finalising on few things as far as preparations for the conference are concerned,” Makaure said.

The trade and investment conference, dubbed “Opportunities in Africa and the Rest of the World”, is aimed at improving investment in the southern parts of the country.

According to ZNCC, ambassadors from 18 African countries have confirmed attendance while representatives from international financial institutions, including the Africa Development Bank and Industrial Development Bank of South Africa are expected to attend.

The conference is a follow-up to the inaugural seminar held in October 2011 which marked the initiation of trade dissemination platforms and linkages between businesses in Matabeleland and the rest of the world.

According to ZNCC, the conference will host an exhibition for local and regional companies from African chambers of commerce and industries across the globe.

The continental conference comes as Bulawayo faces serious deindustrialisation with over 100 companies shutting down.

Economic analysts are projecting that more firms will be liquidated while several others will be placed under judicial management this year.

Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries president Charles Msipha recently said that capacity utilisation will fall below last year’s 39,6% as the harsh economic climate continues to bite.

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