Story by Owen Mandovha, Business Reporter
The SADC Industrialisation Week is billed to showcase Zimbabwe’s advancing industrial sector under the Second Republic, with various companies set to exhibit at the regional fair.
One of the companies set to participate at the regional exhibition, Schweppes, boasts of an industrial automation which will highlight the country’s advances in industrial technology.
The juice and beverages maker’s automated industrial plant is a result of an investment of over US$60 million.
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce toured the plant in Harare this Friday in preparation for this month’s SADC Industrialisation Week.
“This company resembles the advances that we have made over the years under the Second Republic to modernise our industry. During the SADC Week, we will be able to highlight to our counterparts how the country is making strides in reindustrialisation by way of innovation,” said the Ministry of Industry and Commerce’s Permanent Secretary, Dr Thomas Ushe Utete.
The company generates significant revenue from exports to SADC countries and beyond.
“We are exporting to various regional countries generating around US$5 million in revenue allowing us to import key raw materials. Thanks to our investment in modern industrial technology the plant has reduced costs by between 20 to 30 percent,” said Mr Demos Mbauya.
The firm is among a host of private sector companies set to exhibit at SADC Industrialisation Week to showcase Zimbabwe’s advancing industrial sector under the Second Republic.
The SADC Industrialisation Week runs from the 28th of this month to the 2nd of August, preceding the 44th SADC Heads of State and Government Summit.
