Zim’s mining potential  charms Rwanda investors

RYAN CHIGOCHE

A business delegation from Rwanda has been charmed by Zimbabwe’s mining potential and has expressed interest in the resources sector, Business Times can  report.

The delegation is in the country attending the second leg of the Zimbabwe -Rwanda Investment and Trade Conference which kicked off on Monday. The inaugural conference was held in Kigali last year. It was organised by AB Communications in partnership with the Rwanda Development Board and Zimtrade.

Addressing journalists yesterday, ZimTrade CEO Allan Majuru said a large number on the delegation expressed strong interests in mining. “……….. a lot of Rwandese have expressed interest in mining and there are negotiations and consultations that are currently underway on the mining side for them to mine some minerals here in Zimbabwe,” Majuru said.

He said the conference was also designed to learn the best business practices and exchange ideas in addition to getting opportunities on trade and investments.

The interest in Zimbabwe’s mining sector is projected to propel the US$12bn mining economy by 2023.

As an outcome of the conference, an irrigation development company, the Rwandans are discussing a potential deal for them to put some centre pivots in Rwanda and increase their hectarage under irrigation which is currently at 70,000ha.

Majuru added that a solar plant was also going to be installed in Zimbabwe through an arrangement between Zesa and Rwanda Energy Group.

The conference’s theme is ‘Explore, Invest, Export,’.

The conference ends today with 60 Rwandan and over 100   local businesses participating.

Ariella Kageruka, Rwanda Development Board’s head of tourism told delegates that they are going to come up with a visa plan that would see the two countries sharing tourists.

“We are going to work together in packaging our destinations so that when people choose to visit the two destinations they will only have one visa that will help boost tourism in both countries,” Kageruka said.

The arrangement will see Zimbabwean tourism destinations benefiting off the successful Visit Rwanda campaign.

In the agricultural sector Zimbabwean farmers have been tipped to take up chilli farming and export to Rwanda as it cannot meet the demand for chilli in China.