Business / Economy
Timing factors drive interest in Zim investment indaba
03 Apr 2014 at 06:37hrs | Views
Global investors may have lowered their exposure to some emerging markets, but interest in an African ‘frontier market' like Zimbabwe has not diminished, according to the organisers of the annual Imara Edwards investment indaba in Harare.
International fund managers from America, Europe and Asia attend the event in Harare staged by the Imara Edwards, Zimbabwe's leading stockbroker, and its Johannesburg associates, Imara Africa Securities.
Attendance is by invitation only and no slackening of interest is evident, says Tino Kambasha, executive director of Imara Edwards.
He believes timing factors help underpin interest by portfolio managers looking for value opportunities.
"Some analysts speculate that 2014 represents the low point in Zimbabwe's long-term economic cycle," notes Kambasa. "Any investor is interested at getting in at the bottom and our conference presents an opportunity to scrutinise the entire spectrum of the Zimbabwe economy at one event.
"Local consumer demand has recently slackened while the strength of the US dollar puts growing pressure on the trading environment for most businesses in Zimbabwe. However, dollarization removes currency risk for foreign investors - another factor for those looking for value in a market with big upside potential."
The conference from May 27 to May 30 features input from Zimbabwean businesses drawn from sectors as diverse as banking and insurance, food and beverages, retail, technology, mining, construction and industrial holdings.
International fund managers from America, Europe and Asia attend the event in Harare staged by the Imara Edwards, Zimbabwe's leading stockbroker, and its Johannesburg associates, Imara Africa Securities.
Attendance is by invitation only and no slackening of interest is evident, says Tino Kambasha, executive director of Imara Edwards.
He believes timing factors help underpin interest by portfolio managers looking for value opportunities.
"Some analysts speculate that 2014 represents the low point in Zimbabwe's long-term economic cycle," notes Kambasa. "Any investor is interested at getting in at the bottom and our conference presents an opportunity to scrutinise the entire spectrum of the Zimbabwe economy at one event.
"Local consumer demand has recently slackened while the strength of the US dollar puts growing pressure on the trading environment for most businesses in Zimbabwe. However, dollarization removes currency risk for foreign investors - another factor for those looking for value in a market with big upside potential."
The conference from May 27 to May 30 features input from Zimbabwean businesses drawn from sectors as diverse as banking and insurance, food and beverages, retail, technology, mining, construction and industrial holdings.
Source - cleardistinction
