Zimtrade challenges Bulawayo companies to invest in Mozambique

BULAWAYO — Zimtrade (an export support and promotion arm of the government) has challenged Bulawayo companies to move with speed and take advantage of trade and investment opportunities that exist in  Mozambique’s Tete province, currently dominated by mining companies from Brazil and India. Tete province, located in North-West Mozambique on the banks of the Zambezi River and 833 kilometres from Bulawayo, had untapped mineral resources and an  abundance of coal, iron ore deposits and natural  gas.

A number of companies in Bulawayo are facing viability challenges while others have closed shop.The Zimtrade technical adviser said the Bulawayo-based small to medium scale enterprises (SMEs) should take advantage of a Rio Tinto coal mine business center catering for small businesses to also venture into the Tete  market. Bulawayo -based companies could supply fuel lubricants, mining tools and spare parts, building equipment and plumbing materials, among others.

Rio Tinto, a global resources firm, had set up a coal mine in the province, while Jindal and Vale coal mines of India and Brazil had operations in Tete.

Zimtrade is planning another trade promotion trip to the Nyasa province of Mozambique, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Limpopo and Gauteng provinces of South Africa this year in a bid to assist Zimbabwean companies to strategically position themselves in those markets.

Can this be the answer  to the Bulawayo business problems, lets discuss.