Boost for job seekers as Chinese firms eye local talent
BUSINESS REPORTER
Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe will this week hold a two-day job fair in conjunction with the Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe aimed at creating employment opportunities and contributing to economic development.
The China-Stanbic job fair runs from October 14 to 15 at Stanbic Park in Borrowdale under the theme, “Working together to boost the Zimbabwean economy”.
Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe head Trade & Africa China Banking Tapuwa Nyika said the idea for the fair was motivated by the leading financial services institution’s quest to improve people’s livelihoods and economic betterment.
He said the bank “appreciates that Zimbabweans are not spared from the global economic downturn with the unemployment rate continuing to rise”.
“To that end, the two-day job fair is aimed at providing an opportunity for Chinese enterprises to hire local talent and pursue localised development,” Nyika said.
He said the China-Stanbic job fair was mooted thanks to the partnership Stanbic Bank has forged with the Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe for mutual benefit.
The fair will also help Chinese companies to showcase their products and help them showcase what they have to offer and the contributions they are making towards the economic development of Zimbabwe, Nyika said.
He said most Chinese companies have been struggling to fill various vacancies within their organisations and the job fair will help Chinese companies cover this gap.
Nyika said most of Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe’s member companies will be attending together with local enterprises that cooperate with Chinese enterprises creating a platform for mutual exchange and display of their own products and services.
“All Chinese owned businesses in Zimbabwe have been invited to participate. Most Chinese companies advised the Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe that they have various vacant roles they need to find suitable candidates. These roles include translators, drivers, welders among others,” Nyika said.
The Chamber of Chinese Enterprises in Zimbabwe vice president Shanel Liu said the organisation has several member companies involved mostly in economic and national strategic projects in in Zimbabwe.
The companies include Tian Ze Tobacco which has exported more than 40% of Zimbabwe’s tobacco to China, making it one of the pillars of the tobacco industry.
“Sino-Hydro is the company that refurbished Kariba South Hydro Power Station and currently upgrading of Hwange Power Station which is expected to add 600MW into the national power grid by 2022.
“Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe has been involved in both these power generation projects. China Jiangsu International is working on the Robert Mugabe International Airport expansion project which is expected to boost tourism on completion.
“Others include Sino Steel and Tsing Shan Group, a mining company and technology companies Huawei and ZTE,” Shanel said.
