Nyore Madzianike
A DELEGATION drawn from 20 high-profile French companies, led by France Ambassador to Zimbabwe Paul-Bertrand Barets, yesterday met President Mnangagwa at State House in Harare, where they reaffirmed their country’s commitment to strengthen economic ties with Zimbabwe.
The delegation was in the country for a two-day visit to explore investment avenues and areas of business partnerships in different sectors of the economy.
Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to France Dr Sekai Nzenza also accompanied the delegation, which had in its midst Alstom company senior vice president public affairs Mr Philippe Delleur.
Alstom is a rolling stock manufacturer that operates worldwide in rail transport markets.
After the meeting, Ambassador Barets said they were encouraged by the level of attention and commitment shown by President Mnangagwa towards enhancing economic ties.
“French companies have always been present in Zimbabwe and they have never left; they have never left those last decades,” he said.
“Now, we want to, with the support and very strong leadership of President Mnangagwa, and with the support and encouragement of my President Emmanuel Macron, make a new step forward in terms of engagement. This was the very meaning of this visit of an important French private company delegation — more than 20 — who, thanks to the support of the Zimbabwean authorities, met many ministries here, many authorities, with the support of the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI), with the support of Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (Zida). We made it possible to create new avenues for cooperation, new partnerships.”
Ambassador Barets said the delegation hopes to open new avenues of cooperation after the latest visit.
“The President was very supportive — very supportive. And I must say he was supportive from day one.
“When I had the honour, just after one week in Harare, to present my credentials, already the President told me that we should reach a new level of mutual and reciprocal engagement in the economic field as well.
“And during this meeting, I must say I have been amazed by the quality of his attention to what we did here in Zimbabwe during those two days with the French companies,” he added.
“He has been very attentive, very much willing to continue this reciprocal movement of engagement.
“So, I am very thankful and very grateful to His Excellency for his hospitality, for his attention and for his dedication to the French-Zimbabwean relationship.”
Ambassador Nzenza said the team expressed interest in mining, agriculture and construction.
Some of the French companies have also set sights on constructing light rail in Harare.
“I have a mandate given to me by His Excellency Dr ED Mnangagwa.
“He wants me to represent national interests in France and part of my job is to bring investment and promote private sector engagement so that we reach all sectors of Zimbabwean society by bringing in investors in mining, in agriculture, in tourism, in manufacturing and also in transport and infrastructure,” said Ambassador Nzenza.
“We brought 20 high-profile companies from France and among them are those who make light rail, like the trains that go around Harare ferrying people.
“So, in there (the meeting) they were telling His Excellency that they plan to build light rail for Harare.
“That is just one aspect of the kind of investment that we are going to be getting from France.”
The French delegation, Ambassador Nzenza said, managed to meet a number of Government ministries and companies, including those under the Mutapa Investment Fund.
“We were also able to meet a number of ministries here, including Mutapa investments, and they have got a huge portfolio that these 20 companies will be able to identify exactly where they fit,” she said.
“So, this was a very exciting moment because, as His Excellency the Ambassador from France said, we are upscaling the relationship between Zimbabwe and France.
“Going forward, you will be seeing a lot more of French investors coming into Zimbabwe, creating jobs; therefore, realising His Excellency’s vision . . .
“So, that is the job that he has given me: to bring investors into Zimbabwe.”
Mr Delleur said his team was representing an organisation of about 200 000 French companies with interest in investing in Africa.
He said their visit was the first step towards economic integration.
“We represent the main organisation, which is the main business organisation in France, gathering more than 200 000 companies in France from all sectors of activities,” he said.
“There are already French companies active in mining activity, in construction. We are looking also into infrastructure and energy, which is a key issue for development.”
He thanked President Mnangagwa for welcoming them.
“We thank him (President Mnangagwa) very much for the support we received during these two days by Zida and all the organisations of Zimbabwe. I think that this is the first step for further development.
“We are going back now to France and we will encourage more French companies to come here to Zimbabwe,” added Mr Delleur.
“Yes, you know, in fact, we are already very present in the whole region.
“For example, Alstom, my company, is very active in South Africa.
“We have a large industrial base, so this gives us the possibility to come with stronger capacity to also participate in the development of Zimbabwe.”
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