News / National
Zimbabwe, Italian firm partner for first Zimbabwe made car
10 Nov 2015 at 15:11hrs | Views
The Ministry of Industry and Commerce has signed several memoranda of understanding (MoUs) with Italian firm El Badaoui Group, aimed at enhancing value addition and beneficiation in the country.
The MoUs will see the two parties working together to enhance value addition and beneficiation of various products using local raw materials, and creation of the Zimbabwe Innovation Company.
It will also mark the first step towards, the manufacture of a Zimbabwe made car in conjunction with the Italian partner.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha said among the three areas of cooperation that have been agreed on with the El Badaoui Group, one was focus on the designing and production of local car.
"We agreed to establish an entity to spearhead the design and manufacture of a Zimbabwean-made car with potential to export throughout Africa," said Minister Bimha.
"Mr El Badaoui visited Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries to assess the infrastructure currently in place."
The cooperation will also see the establishment of an outlet to prepare food items exhibited at the Expo Milan 2015 such as the Croco/Savanna burgers within the Victoria Falls airport.
"This will allow continuation of the country's success at Expo and the area being a popular tourist resort, will attract many clients," he said.
The MoU will also see the creation of a research and development company - the Zimbabwe Innovation Company - to focus on how best to commercialise some of Zimbabwe's natural resources.
"The idea is to have all the products that were developed during Expo Milan 2015 using the materials that had been taken for exhibition such as Makoni, Zumbani and Resurrection herbal teas, to be produced in the country as soon as the structures are put in place.
"Establishment of the innovation company will enhance the analysis of many of our raw materials, which today are either partially or not being done or are being analysed outside the country at a higher cost," said the Minister.
It is expected that the implementation of the MoUs will assist in the rejuvenation of the local manufacturing sector, and expand the range of exported products into the region and globally.
The El Badaoui Group has already developed a number of innovative products using local natural resources, namely Makoni and Zumbani vodka, Resurrection 55 and 75 degrees liquor, Madora sauce, Madora Liqour and pure Madora protein capsules, Baobab beverage and Baobab food supplements.
The MoUs will see the two parties working together to enhance value addition and beneficiation of various products using local raw materials, and creation of the Zimbabwe Innovation Company.
It will also mark the first step towards, the manufacture of a Zimbabwe made car in conjunction with the Italian partner.
Industry and Commerce Minister Mike Bimha said among the three areas of cooperation that have been agreed on with the El Badaoui Group, one was focus on the designing and production of local car.
"We agreed to establish an entity to spearhead the design and manufacture of a Zimbabwean-made car with potential to export throughout Africa," said Minister Bimha.
"Mr El Badaoui visited Willowvale Mazda Motor Industries to assess the infrastructure currently in place."
"This will allow continuation of the country's success at Expo and the area being a popular tourist resort, will attract many clients," he said.
The MoU will also see the creation of a research and development company - the Zimbabwe Innovation Company - to focus on how best to commercialise some of Zimbabwe's natural resources.
"The idea is to have all the products that were developed during Expo Milan 2015 using the materials that had been taken for exhibition such as Makoni, Zumbani and Resurrection herbal teas, to be produced in the country as soon as the structures are put in place.
"Establishment of the innovation company will enhance the analysis of many of our raw materials, which today are either partially or not being done or are being analysed outside the country at a higher cost," said the Minister.
It is expected that the implementation of the MoUs will assist in the rejuvenation of the local manufacturing sector, and expand the range of exported products into the region and globally.
The El Badaoui Group has already developed a number of innovative products using local natural resources, namely Makoni and Zumbani vodka, Resurrection 55 and 75 degrees liquor, Madora sauce, Madora Liqour and pure Madora protein capsules, Baobab beverage and Baobab food supplements.
Source - BH24
