BUSINESS REPORTER
The China-Stanbic Job Fair attracted over 1 800 jobseekers as the inaugural event took giant strides towards playing a pivotal role in employment creation for locals.
The two-day event, which was hosted by Stanbic Bank in partnership with Chinese Chamber of Enterprises in Zimbabwe (CCEZ), had 2000 applicants, predominantly recent university graduates.
CCEZ Vice Chairman, Shanel Liu said the job applicants dropped off their CVs and met with employers and company representatives with around 20% undergoing interviews during the fair. More interviews are scheduled for the coming weeks, Shanel said.
“The event was a resounding success as a result of the collaboration between the Chamber of Chinese Enterprises and Stanbic Bank. It has achieved its goal by providing an opportunity for job seekers struggling to find suitable work,” she said.
Shanel said job seekers met with employers and company representatives face to face as they got to gain a deeper understanding of their career prospects and pursue preferred pathways through networking with potential employers.
On the other hand, employers got to identify suitable talent having engaged them as part of the early recruitment process.
“Our Chinese enterprises have invested in Zimbabwe, in a wide range of industries, and this successful launch of the Job Fair has spurred us to invest long term in the event which has proved to be a solid platform for the provision of jobs for Zimbabwean job seekers and boosting the local economy,” Shanel said.
Over 30 Chinese enterprises drawn from various sectors such as mining, agriculture, textiles, hospitality, information and Technology and construction among others participated at the fair.
Shanel said the popular positions that job seekers were looking for included human resources, drivers, electricians, accountants, engineers and translators.
The CCEZ is an association of over 80 Chinese business corporations, most of which are listed companies, operating in diverse sectors of the Zimbabwean economies such as agriculture, mining, telecommunication, tourism, power generation, health and medical and manufacturing.
Stanbic Bank Head of Business and Commercial Clients, Patson Mahatchi said the Standard Bank Group subsidiary considered Africa and Zimbabwe, in particular, as its home hence was committed to playing a key role in the economic development of the southern Africa nation.
Mahatchi said Stanbic Bank was also tapping into the institutions’ mutually beneficial relationships with CCEZ and its other ties with China through the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. Mahatchi said this year Stanbic Bank had rolled out a solution that assists companies and individuals in importing from China which has been well received in the market.
Economic and Commercial Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy, Huang Minghai, said the fair was the perfect platform for Chinese companies operating in Zimbabwe to allay misconceptions about how unprofessional they operate.
Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare minister, Paul Mavima, said the job fair was key in that it complemented government’s efforts to create employment as enshrined under the Vision 2030.
