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Zimbabwe: Investors Pledge $2bn for Tourism Industry
- By Lucky George
- Published September 20th, 2009
- TravelWorld
- Unrated
INVESTORs at the on-going China International Trade and Investment Conference have pledged about $2 billion funding for 40 projects in the tourism and hospitality industry.
A total of 60 tourism development, promotion and marketing projects from Zimbabwe were seeking possible funding from prime investors from 101 countries attending and by yesterday afternoon international investors had separately picked up 40 projects and separately pledged a total of US$2 billion.
Projects identified include the expansion of three airports, modernisation of air traffic control equipment, hotel refurbishment and construction, transport and tour operations fleet.
African Sun, Rainbow Tourism Group, Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Cresta Hospitality, United Touring Company and ZTA itself are some of the companies whose projects were taken up.
In a telephone interview from Xiamen, China, ZTA Chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke said the Zimbabwean delegation led by the acting secretary for Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mrs Enifer Mutsau was now concentrating on the 20 projects that have not been taken up.
“We are grateful that we are among the 101 countries at the conference including Britain and America and one of the 21 African countries exhibiting.
“We came with 60 projects from the public and private sectors and the response has been overwhelming with 40 projects already having been taken up by potential investors who have pledged a total of US$2 billion.
“These include the expansion of Victoria Falls, Buffalo Range and Joshua Nkomo international airports and the modernisation of air traffic control equipment for Harare and these three airports,” said Mr Kaseke.
He said some of the investors have indicated that they would come to Zimbabwe before the end of the month to follow up the projects and see the situation on the ground.
“Some are coming before this month-end; others are coming for Sanganai Travel Expo while others will follow late. In short we are happy that we have made some headway in luring investors.
“Before the end of the exposition at the end of the weekend, we should have talked to several other investors to see if the remaining projects can be taken up,” he said.
The China International Trade and Investment Conference is a prime investment exposition that brings together world acclaimed investors and runs in September every year for the past 13 years.
This is the fifth consecutive year that Zimbabwe has been attending.
A total of 60 tourism development, promotion and marketing projects from Zimbabwe were seeking possible funding from prime investors from 101 countries attending and by yesterday afternoon international investors had separately picked up 40 projects and separately pledged a total of US$2 billion.
Projects identified include the expansion of three airports, modernisation of air traffic control equipment, hotel refurbishment and construction, transport and tour operations fleet.
African Sun, Rainbow Tourism Group, Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe, Cresta Hospitality, United Touring Company and ZTA itself are some of the companies whose projects were taken up.
In a telephone interview from Xiamen, China, ZTA Chief executive Mr Karikoga Kaseke said the Zimbabwean delegation led by the acting secretary for Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mrs Enifer Mutsau was now concentrating on the 20 projects that have not been taken up.
“We are grateful that we are among the 101 countries at the conference including Britain and America and one of the 21 African countries exhibiting.
“We came with 60 projects from the public and private sectors and the response has been overwhelming with 40 projects already having been taken up by potential investors who have pledged a total of US$2 billion.
“These include the expansion of Victoria Falls, Buffalo Range and Joshua Nkomo international airports and the modernisation of air traffic control equipment for Harare and these three airports,” said Mr Kaseke.
He said some of the investors have indicated that they would come to Zimbabwe before the end of the month to follow up the projects and see the situation on the ground.
“Some are coming before this month-end; others are coming for Sanganai Travel Expo while others will follow late. In short we are happy that we have made some headway in luring investors.
“Before the end of the exposition at the end of the weekend, we should have talked to several other investors to see if the remaining projects can be taken up,” he said.
The China International Trade and Investment Conference is a prime investment exposition that brings together world acclaimed investors and runs in September every year for the past 13 years.
This is the fifth consecutive year that Zimbabwe has been attending.
