Maravi

(HERALD) Zim embarks on investment marketing drive

Zim embarks on investment marketing drive
By Isdore Guvamombe

ZIMBABWE is embarking on a massive investment and tourism marketing drive that should see high-powered business delegations visit and court investors from 26 nations worldwide.

The investment drive starts tomorrow and all the 26 countries will have been visited within six months by business delegations whose compositions are based on the specific country and its strengths.

Among the countries to be visited are United Kingdom, Brazil, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Democratic Republic of Korea, China, Russia, Iran, Australia, Japan and Spain.

There is also a host of regional countries that will be visited. The move is meant to bolster the country’s economic revival plan under the Short Term Emergency Recovery Plan.

In an interview yesterday, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Minister Walter Mzembi said everything had been put in place to facilitate the visit by multi-sectoral business delegations to the 26 countries.

"As the country’s chief public relations officer, I am glad to announce that the visits to the 26 source markets by multi-sectoral business teams. This is a direct and fast follow-up to the lifting of travel warnings and should yield results for our investment.

"We want to engage investors from those countries and we will use our tourism links to rent crowds for us. We are now talking of investment and tourism as inseparable business ventures.

"We have finished doing what we were supposed to do locally, that is bringing together all stakeholders including Government to rebuild the economy. We now need to vigorously explore international markets,’’ said Minister Mzembi.

He said the composition of each delegation would be different, depending on the investment and tourism opportunities that exist in the country being visited.

Minister Mzembi said he was leading a business delegation to Brazil tomorrow that will not only seek for soccer tourism but serious investment opportunities.

To Brazil, the Minister said he would be leading a delegation that includes the Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Rainbow Tourism Group, United Touring Company.

"I know many people are thinking of 2010 alone but we are going much further than that because there should be business after that World Cup Soccer Final.

"We are talking to Brazil and Mozambique has done the same. We are now using President Mugabe to talk to his Brazilian counterpart about hosting that country and it seems to be working.

"Many people have misconceptions about Brazil and Mozambique. Brazilians are not after the coastline or Portuguese because they are looking for a new experience. There is no Victoria Falls and Great Zimbabwe in Brazil,’’ he said.

Minister Mzembi said Zimbabwe would be looking for regional integration packages both in tourism and other industries to speed up economic recovery.

"Our country has been under political siege and the removal of travel warnings alone is not enough. We have to go there and entice the people into coming.

"By removing travel warning they simply removed political hurdles and landmines that have been on our way for 10 years.

"Our bidding is going to be in terms of business and political process. We are going to the markets to assure and give confidence that we are a safe investment destination,’’ he said.

Labels: INVESTMENT, ZIMBABWE

posted by MrK @ 7:41 PM