South Africa, Zimbabwe Promote Cooperation

SOUTH AFRICAN GOVERNMENT NEWS AGENCY

South Africa’s Trade and Industry deputy minister is pushing for increased trade between his country and neighboring Zimbabwe.

Deputy Minister Mzwandile Masina spoke at a March 2016 dinner hosted by the Zimbabwean Ministry of Macro-Economic Planning and Investment Promotion. The dinner was part of the Investment and Trade Initiative to Harare, Gweru and Bulawayo, organized by the Department of Trade and Industry.

“As neighbors, it is incumbent upon us to work together closely in ensuring that we increase trade between our countries and achieve economic growth,” Masina said. “The role of business in this mission can never be overemphasized. As government, our main task is to create a conducive environment for business to operate smoothly.”

Masina was accompanying a 30-member business delegation on the initiative to Zimbabwe. He said the bilateral economic and political relations had been strengthened by the signing of the Bi-National Commission agreement in April 2015. This, he said, opened doors for broader, more intense and high-level cooperation between the countries.

“That is why we are here with a group of business people,” he said. “We want them to engage with their counterparts here in Zimbabwe and exchange ideas that will result in them establishing partnerships and joint ventures and start manufacturing operations.”

He emphasized the value of pursuing industrialization and the benefits of mineral resources throughout Africa to grow the economies of the continent.

He said Zimbabwe and South Africa need to contribute to efforts aimed at achieving regional integration in the continent. He cited the tripartite free trade area comprising the Southern African Development Community, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa, and the East African Community as an example of regional integration.

“The importance of the free trade area is that it will provide a market of 600 million people for our goods and services,” he said. “This will expand to 1 billion when the continental free trade area that is being negotiated by our leadership is achieved.”