By Tendai Matunhu
As President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ mantra continues to bear fruits, Zimtrade signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) of Collaboration with Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO) so as to strengthen cooperation between Zimbabwe and Japan.
Speaking to the media on the sidelines of the signing ceremony at Tokyo International Conference on Africa Development (TICAD7) in Japan yesterday, Zimtrade CEO, Allan Mujuru said, “The MoU we signed with JETRO is meant to foster cooperation between Japan and Zimbabwe. As you know Japan has got high disposable incomes and they have a huge appetite for our food staffs but standards are important so the MoU is meant to capacitate our Small to Medium Enterprises (SMEs).”
Mujuru went on to say that SMEs need to be better prepared for them to participate in Japan’s events than what they were doing before. He highlighted that Zimtrade is going to be the main body for companies to participate at Japan Trade Fair and Events.
Mujuru said Zimtrade would also be working with local companies to make sure that when they get to Japan they will be well informed of the requirements that they need for them to export to Japan.
Mujuru said that Japan valued high standards and Zimtrade will see to it that Zimbabwean SMEs attain the standards.
“Although Japan has got quite huge standards when it comes to food staffs, but if we attain those standards the sky is the limit for us to export those food products to Japan and also Arts and Crafts are quite important. So as Zimtrade, we are going to be organising our SMEs to make sure that they tap into the Japanese market when they do export business,” he said.
Speaking on the summary of TICAD7, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Sibusiso Moyo highlighted that JETRO is responsible for the promotion of trade and investments for Japan. He said Japan Foreign Minister Taro Kono said the MoU was paramount because it was going to enhance and give confidence to Japanese corporates who intend and who are going to be coming into Zimbabwe, whilst JETRO in due course would relocate to Zimbabwe.
Meanwhile, Minister of Finance Mthuli Ncube signed an MoU with Afro Japanese Business consultancy. The company wants to open a consulate in Japan to assist the Zimbabwean embassy to invest in the transport sector, health sector and solar energy. They also want to establish an investment fund in attractive sectors in Zimbabwe.
The signing of these MoUs will definitely improve trade and investment opportunities in Zimbabwe and this goes to show that Zimbabwe’s re-engagement drive is bearing fruit.
