Story by Tendai Munengwa
INDONESIA has expressed interest in partnering the Second Republic in building pharmaceutical factories in Zimbabwe, in a move which will be key in boosting the country’s health delivery system.
Emerging from a closed-door meeting with the visiting Indonesia delegation led by the Asian country’s Minister of Investment and Maritime, Mr Luhut Binsar, Acting President General (Retired) Dr Constantino Chiwenga revealed that the two countries are seeking to deepen cooperation in various areas with particular emphasis on the health sector.
“We had a fruitful meeting in a number of areas like agriculture, health and infrastructure development. Remember, I was in Indonesia recently and held discussions with the Indonesian government. They expressed their intention to come and invest in health, to build factories which can produce medicine here in Zimbabwe. So they Minister of Investment is here to cement those agreements,” he said.
The visiting Indonesian Minister hailed the conducive investment environment and opportunities available in Zimbabwe.
“Like the Acting President has said, we had meetings with the President and this one is to cement what the Acting President highlighted. We will form a joint committee comprising ambassadors and ministers which will meet in Jakata in February to expedite implementation of these agreements,” he noted.
Zimbabwe intends to tap into railway line projects and buy palm oil direct from Indonesia instead of going through third parties.
The visiting Indonesian Minister of Investment and Maritime earlier on paid a courtesy call on the Speaker of the National Assembly, Advocate Jacob Mudenda, where discussions centered on the need to align legislation that promotes the safeguarding of natural resources for national economic development.
