REPORTS say over 50 Kazakhstan companies have expressed keen interest in partnering Zimbabwean counterparts in various business and economic development spheres.
The companies’ representatives met President Mnangagwa at his delegation at a Zimbabwe Kazakhstan Business Forum in Astana today (Sunday).
The Kazakhstan business people were drawn from mining industry, machine building, power generation, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, aerospace, finance and export services, transport and logistics, road construction, exploration and refining of minerals and chemicals.
Kazakhstan’s Industry and Infrastructure Development Minister, Mr Zhennis Kassymbek outlined the role of his country as a get-way for trade to Europe via Russia and how his country is ready to receive partners from Zimbabwe in the mining, machinery, agriculture and energy sectors.
He said in Zimbabwe, Kazakhstan has an important partner for trade not only for that country but the SADC region as a whole.
Several companies urged Zimbabwean business people to come forward and forge linkages with Kazakhstan without further waste of time.
The Zimbabwean government announced its intention to open an embassy in Astana to facilitate the business movements and transactions between the two countries as Zimbabwe opens a new frontier of economic diplomacy in Eurasia.
Zimbabwe’s Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs, Professor Mthuli Ncube said there is need for a Zimbabwe Kazakhstan Joint Commission to coordinate cooperation between Harare and Astana.
On the mining side, Minister Winston Chitando explained Zimbabwe’s intention to start stainless steel manufacturing and new opportunities emerging in the lithium and nickel sectors.