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Munesu Nyakudya Review Writer
Zimbabwe and India have a relationship that has grown beyond cultural and social links as the two nations are now close business and trade partners, Zimbabwe-India Chamber of Commerce vice chairman Nhau George Chistinde has said.

Mr Chitsinde revealed that total bilateral trade between the two countries is around $133 million while Indian investments into Zimbabwe are worth slightly less than $50 million.

“With Zimbabwe following, of late, a Look East policy India is now looked upon as an important trading as well as business partner.

“Four meetings of the Joint Commission have been held so far – first in New Delhi in April 1987; second in Harare in February 1989; third in New Delhi in October 1990 and the fourth in Harare in January 1996. No Joint Commission meeting has been held since 1996 mainly due to Zimbabwe’s economic turmoil. Dates for holding the 5th JCM in Delhi are being worked out,” Mr Chitsinde said.

He also said SoM was held in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in New Delhi in February 2012, followed by the second Joint Trade Committee meeting in Harare in March 2013.

“The Air Services Agreement between India and Zimbabwe was signed on June 19, 2014 in Harare.

“The frequency of visits by business delegations from Zimbabwe has gone up in the last few years and a probable turn-around in the Zimbabwean economy in the future can open up considerable opportunities for Indian companies in agro-processing, mining, telecommunications, power and pharmaceuticals,” he added.

Mr Chitsinde said from the Indian side, delegations from CII and FICCI visited Zimbabwe in November 2013 and May 2014 respectively and participated in business seminars and B-2-B meetings.

Indian public sector companies like Indian Railway Construction Company (IRCON), Rail India Technical & Economic Services (RITES), Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) and Telecommunications India Ltd (TCIL) had a successful history of engagement with Zimbabwe.

Kirloskar and Jain Irrigation have supplied pumps and irrigation equipment. Some Indian companies are looking for investments in mining – coal, granite, gold and diamonds.

India has also a strong presence in the pharmaceutical sector in Zimbabwe and Indian medicines are readily available in the local market.

“Ranbaxy and lpca Labs Ltd have also established business relations with the Zimbabwean health sector.

“An Indian pharmaceutical company, Shreya, had invested about $1 million in the largest pharmaceutical company of Zimbabwe – CAPS Ltd. M/s Chadha Power of India were awarded a contract in April 2008 to refurbish four units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station near Victoria Falls,” he said.

He went on to say Surface Investment set up a multi-seed edible oil producing plant near Harare capable of producing 120 000 bottles of edible oil daily with an investment of nearly $1,5 million. The project is a joint venture between Midex Global Pvt Ltd, Indore and Industrial Development Corporation of Zimbabwe on a 74:26 sharing basis.

Graffax Cotton Pvt Ltd, a 100 percent foreign-owned EPZ company, has an investment of $2,5 million. It has two cotton-ginning plants in Sanyati and Mt Darwin in Zimbabwe. The company has plans to install a spinning project to process 3000 tons of lint per annum into yarn and fabrics at Adbernie in Harare and an oil extraction/solvent plant in Mt Darwin.

PM Electronics is exporting transformers to Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority (ZESA). The company has also signed a technology transfer agreement with ZESA Enterprises – a subsidiary of ZESA – for a transformer manufacturing project in Harare.

Apollo Tyres has also invested $200 million in Dunlop South Africa, whose subsidiary is Dunlop Zimbabwe.

Technofab Engineering Limited, Delhi won three orders worth $30 million in early 2013, for rehabilitation of water supply and sewage systems in Mutare, Harare, Chitungwiza, Kwekwe, Chegutu and Masvingo.

Angelique International Ltd Delhi were awarded a contract for works “Emergency Power Infrastructure Rehabilitation Project” by the Government of Zimbabwe in 2013. The project was funded by a multi-donor fund administered by AfDB. The project was completed in July 2014.

Another Indian firm, Indure (Private) Ltd was reported to have won a tender worth $11 million in August 2013 to rehabilitate and upgrade the ash plant at the Hwange Thermal Power Station.

Tata International acquired Blackwood Hodge (Zimbabwe) Pvt Ltd dealing in trading and invested $2,5 million.

The beginning of Indian presence in Zimbabwe goes back to about 1890 when Indian plantation workers in apartheid South Africa crossed over to the then Southern Rhodesia.

At present the number of Zimbabweans of Indian origin, who are predominantly from the province of Gujarat, is estimated at about 9 000.

The community has formed societies on religious lines, though they live in harmony. This community has mainly engaged itself in retail trade or export-import business, while the younger generations have mostly moved out of the country for better opportunities as professionals.

The expatriate Indian community has a membership of 500. Some of them are on long-term business/work permits while most are professionals engaged in computer software, accountancy and banking.

“By and large, the Indian community is well respected in Zimbabwe and has maintained cordial relations with the majority community,” Mr Chitsinde said.