(HERALD) Mujuru launches Indo-Zim Project II

Mujuru launches Indo-Zim Project II
Herald Reporter

Acting President Joice Mujuru yesterday urged entrepreneurs to make use of the state-of-the-art machinery donated by India under the Indo-Zimbabwe Training Project to enhance productivity.

She was speaking at the official launch of the second phase of the Indo-Zimbabwe Training Project in Harare yesterday. The training centre, located at the Harare Institute of Technology provides entrepreneurs an opportunity to receive training in technology-related programmes.

"We therefore call upon all our industrialists that the technology is now available in Zimbabwe, here at the Indo-Zimbabwe Technology Centre," she said.

"Let’s have our personnel trained in this skill. You should maximise the usage of these machines to grow the economy and create wealth for yourselves and for the country," said the Acting President.

She said the training centre would enable small and medium entrepreneurs to enhance skills and knowledge at affordable fees.

"This centre provides facilities in high technology precision machining areas, which are not affordable to individual SME’s due to high cost.

"Small and medium enterprises will have access to this technology at this centre for a small fee," she said.

The machinery has the capacity to make essential tools used in small to medium enterprises.

Acting President Mujuru said the coming in of latest technology would help the SME sector to improve quality of locally produced products. It would also create employment opportunities for many college graduates.

The Acting President said this new technology has come at the right time since the SME sector was facing growth and competition challenges from the global market.

"As the world becomes a fiercely competitive global market place, the dynamics of small scale industry have become more challenging.

"Technological innovation has diversified in the global market and demands that SMEs provide quality products and service," she said.

Small and Medium Enterprises and Cooperative Development Minister Sithembiso Nyoni said the Indo-Zimbabwe project was poised to propel the growth of SMEs through promotion of new technologies provided by the Indian government.

She said the future of the country’s economy was on SMEs and urged all to support the sector.

"The growth of our economy hinges on the vibrancy of the SME sector. The world over, the SME sector is recognised for its dynamism resulting in the significant generation of employment and wealth creation," said Minister Nyoni.

She said through the partnership with India, the SME sector would emerge stronger as it would gain skills to improve local industries.

The Indo-Zimbabwe Training Project seeks to promote technology transfer through introduction of computer numerically controlled machines and equipment.

Under the project, India has sent a team of experts to provide practical training and ensure smooth transfer of technology to the Zimbabwean industrialists.