French business delegation expected

Tianjin site-Alstom-3Martin Kadzere Senior Business Reporter
A FRENCH business delegation, representing about 10 big companies, is expected in the country tomorrow to explore investment opportunities in various economic sectors.

This is one of the biggest delegations from Europe in years.

Analysts say the visit demonstrates the huge appetite foreigners have on Zimbabwe’s investment opportunities.

The delegation is expected to hold a meeting with the Presidency, senior Government officials, the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority, the Zimbabwe Investment Authority and representatives from the private sector.

Some of the companies to represented include Alstom, the global leader in power generation, power transmission and rail infrastructure. It has operations in 100 countries.

Bureau Veritas, a quality inspection firm, will also be represented. It is also expected to start operating in the country during the first quarter. The Consignment Based Conformity Assessment Agreement between the Government and Bureau Veritas aims to curb influx of cheap imports through inspection of goods entering the country.

Egis, a consulting and engineering group working in the fields of construction for transport, urban development, buildings, industry, water, the environment and energy is also represented. The group is also involved in project financing, tolling, road and airport operations.

Another big company to represented will be VINCI Construction Grands Projets, which is involved in design and building of major civil engineering structures such as tunnels, bridges, dams, liquefied natural gas storage tanks, road and rail infrastructure and buildings (skyscrapers, shopping malls, hotels and major industrial facilities.

Representatives of Eutelsat, one of the world’s leading satellite operators with capacity commercialised on 35 satellites serving users in 150 countries in Europe, Africa and Asia, will also be visiting, as will be officials from Eiffage Travaux Publics.

Eiffage Travaux Publics is involved in all fields of road and rail construction, civil engineering, sanitation and environment and earthworks.

Eiffage Travaux Publics has a workforce of 21 000 employees deployed in the field, and covers three professional sectors: Roads-Regions, Civil Engineering-Regions and Major Projects.

The company has operations in France, the Spanish Peninsula and Germany, and in Africa.

France was among the countries which the Confederation Industries of Zimbabwe visited early last year, to amplify Governments re-engagement efforts with the European Union.

After the meetings, Zimbabwean ambassador to France David Hamadziripi said the French business community was prepared to engage with local business community.

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