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Writes Elvis Dumba
Chinhoyi – A Canadian firm, Xplorerlink International Investment has said Zimbabwe still has a huge untapped potential in the mining sector that could see the country becoming a powerhouse in gold, copper, chrome, and in producing other minerals.
The sentiments were made by Teres Keragbrzyg, Chairman of a Canadian-based international firm, Xplorelink International Investments.
Keragbrzyg led a group of mining experts and paid a courtesy call to Mashonaland West Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution, Hon Marian Chombo, where they expressed interest in a hundred million investment in the mining sector of the country.
“Zimbabwe has an amazing potential in the mining sector as well as in renewable energy and we look forward to investing in the country where there is still huge untapped potential,” he said.
Keragbrzyg said their firm intends to bring in new mining technologies that are environment friendly such as cyanide-free gold production methods.
“We intend to bring in high tech investment in the mining operations where we use methods which are environmentally friendly such as using gold production methods which are cyanide free and bringing in topographic geomatics in mineral deposits identification methods which we intend to share with the locals,” he said.
The firm said they were attracted to the country after attending an investment expo by Zimbabwe Investment Development Agency in Toronto, Canada.
The diversified firm has operations in Kazakhstan, Canada, Uruguay, and other Eastern Europe countries and Zimbabwe is becoming their first port of entry in Africa.
A director with Xplorelink, M. Yerlan described the country as friendly with the best conditions for business growth in various sectors in the world.
“We have been in the country for a few days but it is amazing and its people are friendly and it’s one county that has a lot of opportunities for various investments,” he said.
Egypt Chitauro, Xplorelink International Investment’s Country Manager in Zimbabwe, said they are looking forward to investing heavily in new technology and skill exchange with the locals.
“We hope to empower the local people with expertise of maximizing their mining operations for value addition and increased production,” he said.
Minister Chombo said Mashonaland West Province is ready to welcome genuine investors who will help in the growth of the provincial economy.
“We are ready to work with any genuine friendly investors as our country and the province is open for business and we have many opportunities in agriculture, mining, tourism, and manufacturing sectors in which investors are welcome to participate following the laws of our country,” she told the delegation.
Hon Chombo said the country looks forward to investors who are ready to empower the locals with skills and technology to maximize production in line with the country’s call to leave no place or person behind in terms of development.