President Mnangagwa said the Government will continue to
implement comprehensive economic reforms to ensure that Zimbabwe is a safe,
favourable and competitive investment destination with a thriving and open economy.
Officially commissioning the US$10 million brick and tile
manufacturing plant at Sino Zimbabwe Cement Company (SZCC) on the outskirts of
Gweru and in a speech read on his behalf by the Minister of Industry and
Commerce Nqobizitha Ndlovu, President Mnangagwa said his Government will
continue working with the private sector and other stakeholders for the growth
and development of the local industry.
The President said the project further demonstrates the
confidence the investors have in the Second Republic and highlights to the
world that Zimbabwe is indeed open for business.
“It is my pleasure and singular honour to be here at this
momentous occasion to officially open Sino Brick Company Zimbabwe (Private)
Limited, a joint venture between Sino Zimbabwe Cement Company and the Mengzhou
Lianguan Plastic Company. I am optimistic that the country’s infrastructure
development programme which includes construction of brick and mortar
facilities will benefit from this new factory. Congratulations for this achievement,”
he said.
“My Government will continue to implement comprehensive
economic reforms towards ensuring that Zimbabwe is a safe, favourable and
competitive investment destination, with a thriving and open economy. We will
continue to work with the private sector and other stakeholders for the growth
and development of our local industry.”
“Allow me to ensure Sino Zimbabwe that my Government stands
ready to render any support in all its endeavours to ensure the success of this
project.
“Meanwhile, I invite more investors both local and foreign
to join us in this journey of progress and usher in a new wave of prosperity
for the people of Zimbabwe,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said the brick manufacturing company
will further benefit Zimbabwe through import substitution as the type of bricks
produced is being imported.
“In addition, the production of bricks at such a massive
scale will improve the availability of affordable and quality bricks for
domestic consumers thus complementing Government initiatives to ensure access
to housing for all. I encourage the company to take advantage of the country’s
geographical and land-linked position which is a gateway into SADC and COMESA
as well as the African Continental Free Trade Africa markets for export of
excess bricks. This will enhance regional trade and generate much needed
foreign currency for both the company and the country,” he said.
President Mnangagwa said Sino Zimbabwe’s illustrious
history in the country is symbolic of the great relationship between the
Zimbabwean and Chinese Government which has now been elevated to comprehensive
strategic partnership.
“This new investment by Sino Zimbabwe embodies the
strategic partnership between our two countries. We remain thankful to the
Chinese government for partnering with us as we seek to rebuild, revitalise and
grow our economy.
“This project further demonstrates the confidence the
investors have in the Second Republic and highlights to the world that Zimbabwe
is indeed open for business,” he said.
Zimbabwe, President Mnangagwa said, is in transition and
one of the priority focus is on value addition and beneficiation. He, however,
said success in this endeavour cannot be accomplished by the Government alone,
but rather, it requires a collaborative multi-stakeholder approach to tackle
economic fragility, unemployment and poverty.
“Such an approach is on display here as this project has
materialised through the integrated efforts of many stakeholders from both the
private and public sectors.
“Our economic reform agenda also entails devolution in
order to decentralise Government to ensure that there is industrial production
throughout the country. It is therefore pleasing to see large industrial
projects such as this one sprouting in this part of the country.”
“It is commendable that the project has adopted the
advanced modern tunnel kiln brick making technology. This resonates with our
thrust to modernise and industrialise our economy as well as integrate global
best practice in production processes through technology transfer,” said the
President.
President Mnangagwa said it is equally pleasing that the
plant is environmentally friendly as its main raw material is a waste product
from limestone quarries that are mined during the production of cement at the
adjacent factory.
“Your innovation in this regard is indeed commendable,” he
said.
President Mnangagwa said the Midlands province has
traditionally been the hub of industrial activity for the economy adding that
the investment by Sino Zimbabwe Brick Company enables the province to buttress
that status.
“The province hosts a myriad of economic activities across
all sectors including platinum, gold, chrome, asbestos and coal mining, crop,
livestock and dairy farming as well as the manufacturing of diverse products
such as beverages, crude tar, shoes, cement, fertilisers and explosives among
others. Multi sectoral synergies between these activities yield multiple
economic opportunities, both upstream and downstream and it is this pleasing to
see Sino Zimbabwe tapping into these opportunities,” he said.
The commissioning of the brick and tile manufacturing plant
comes barely two weeks after President Mnangagwa commissioned $62 million
smelter at Unki Mine. Herald
0 comments:
Post a Comment