The Republic of Zimbabwe is an independent country in Southern Africa, well endowed with mineral, agricultural and other resources, which have created opportunities for the growth of resource-based industrial activities.

The inclusive government has crafted an Economic Revival Framework outlined in a document referred to as Short Term Economic Recovery Programme ("STERP"). This document articulates Zimbabwe's collective vision as the country progresses economically.

The Zimbabwe economy developed from 1950 to 2000 into a highly diversified market based economy.

The Zimbabwean economy experienced continuous decline over the last decade.

The inclusive government has therefore adopted stimulating investment as one of the key strategies for the restoration of economic growth and stability. The objective is to increase investment from the current level of 4% to at least 25% of GDP. The government has therefore identified the need to create an efficient and enabling investment environment so as to enhance a positive supply response. 

The Government has therefore given its commitment to creating a conducive investment environment by guaranteeing security of investment and crafting of investor friendly policies that are also consistent and predictable as well as allowing market forces to play. In this regard the Zimbabwe Investment Authority is in the process of transforming into a fully fledged one-stop-shop for investment. The idea is to streamline decision making processes in key institutions that deal with investors so as to speed up the start up of business and investment projects.

Reasons for Investing in Zimbabwe

• Abundant natural resources
• Availability of educated and competitive labour
• Well developed infrastructure
• Access to regional and world markets
• Protection of investments through membership of international
• Treaties and Bilateral Investment Protection Agreements

Infrastructure

Even though Zimbabwe has a relatively good density in terms of infrastructure, the Government is actively pursuing the rehabilitation and/or expansion of all infrastructure in preparation of the coming economic growth. In line with section 370 of the STERP document(see text on attached DVD) which states that, ?The framework for recapitalization of such entities as the Cold Storage Company ("CSC"), Zimbabwe Electricity Supply Authority ("ZESA"), Civil Aviation Authority of Zimbabwe ("CAAZ"), Zimbabwe National Water Authority ("ZINWA"), National Railways of Zimbabwe ("NRZ"), Tel One, Net One is being developed. This will also encompass companies in which the government has significant shareholding such as Hwange Colliery Limited, SMM Holdings (Private) Limited and the Zimbabwe Iron and Steel Company (Private) Limited ("ZISCO"). The commercialization and privatization of some of the government entities offers significant investment opportunities.

There are massive opportunities within the sector including dam and road construction, provision of urban housing on the back of at least 500 to a million hectares of fresh urban land provided by the state, power generation, and telecommunication infrastructure among other opportunities.

The Inclusive Government has a vision of providing well functioning efficient, available, affordable, improved infrastructure and services to support the economy.