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(HERALD) Zim, Congo Brazzaville business bodies sign accord

Zim, Congo Brazzaville business bodies sign accord
By Walter Muchinguri

THE Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, the Zimbabwe National Chamber of Commerce, Congo Brazzaville’s Confederation of Employers Confederation and Chamber of Commerce yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote business ties between the two countries. CZI president Mr Callisto Jokonya signed the MoU on behalf of his organisation while the ZNCC was represented by its president, Mrs Marah Hativagone. Dr Galessamy Ibombot signed on behalf of the two Congolese organisations.

The signing ceremony was the climax of a seven-day working visit by Dr Ibombot, who is the president of Congo Brazzaville’s Confederation of Employers Confederation and vice-president of that country’s Chamber of Commerce.

Dr Ibombot said the purpose of his visit to Zimbabwe was to encourage Zimbabwean business people to invest in his country as well as establish business links between Congo’s business organisations and their Zimbabwean counterparts.

He said Congo Brazzaville was home to thousands of nationals from different countries and felt Zimbabweans should not miss out.

The general secretary for Congo Brazzaville’s Confederation of Employers Confederation, Mr Romuald Endzandza, who accompanied his president, said they were looking at creating synergies in all sectors of the Zimbabwean economy.

"We want to tap into the expertise that you have. For instance, we have a lot of mineral resources, such as gold, which still need to be exploited and we need that expertise from you because you are already mining the yellow metal here.

"As Congo Brazzaville we have oil resources, which you need and we can make (fuel) available once the necessary agreements are put in place," he said.

Mr Jokonya commended Dr Ibombot’s initiative and urged local business people to take advantage of the opportunities in the Congolese market.

"We should begin to see the comparative advantages that prevail in Africa and take advantage of them. I want to appeal to our business to be risk takers and go out and explore these opportunities. Congo Brazzaville is a potential cash cow for us and our discussions have revealed that it is resource-rich," he said.

By tapping into the Congolese market, Mr Jokonya said Zimbabweans would be exposing themselves to a vast market of 130 million people belonging to the grouping of French-speaking countries in central Africa of which Congo Brazzaville is a member.

He added that the language differences should not act as a barrier to trade since most Zimbabweans were now taking up French lessons.

Mr Jokonya, however, said there was need for the Government to sign protocols with the Congo Brazzaville government to ensure the security of Zimbabwean investments in that country.

He also hoped that trade relations between the two countries would be reciprocal.

"Our intention is not to dominate anyone but trade as equal partners. As Zimbabweans we will continue to look for opportunities.

"This (signing) ceremony is a symbol of unity among Africans because Africa cannot afford to be poor when it is sitting on riches," he said.

Mr Jokonya said CZI would reciprocate Mr Ibombot’s visit in January or February next year.

Speaking of behalf of the ZNCC, Mrs Hativagone said she was delighted by the initiative taken by the two Congolese business organisations to send their president and vice-president to Zimbabwe to forge trade links.

"We should have more of these initiatives as African Union brothers because we need to be trading more as Africans," she said.

Mrs Hativagone also intimated at a reciprocal visit in the near future.

Labels: CONGO BRAZZAVILLE, REGIONAL INTEGRATION, THE HERALD, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 3:37 AM