(Last Updated on August 27, 2012 by Editor)
ITALIAN companies have stepped up scouting for opportunities in Zimbabwe, Italian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Stefano Moscatelli has said.
Ambassador Moscatelli said his embassy had recently received inquiries from Italian companies intending to do business in Zimbabwe.
“Economic ties between Zimbabwe and Italy, in the outlook, are very promising and this can be seen by the growing number of Italian companies which are showing interest in doing business with the country,” he said.
He was speaking on the sidelines of the embassy’s participation at the Harare Agricultural Show last week where a number of Italian firms were exhibiting for the first time.
“This is our first time to exhibit at this show and quite a few Italian firms are represented but most notably are the new companies that are here for the first time and the range of sectors they are looking into. One company has indicated it would like to go into meat processing.”
One of these companies is Silica Mining Consumables (Pvt) Ltd, which is interested in mining. Silica Mining Consumables managing director Mr Antonio Maurizio Enrietti said although they had an initial focus on Zimbabwe’s granite mining sector, they had noted opportunities in the platinum sector.
“In terms of our key competencies, I would say we are very strong in supplying equipment for granite mining, but we would also want to be strong in the platinum sector here in Zimbabwe,” he said. “What we are trying to do is to bring in better equipment and, in that way, we can help in pushing down operational costs for mining players in the country.”
Italian fertiliser producer Puccioni SpA export area manager for Africa and the Middle East Mr Yemane Michele said the company was willing to contribute to the growth of the local agricultural sector. “The decision to come here was taken following an analysis of the potential of the country’s agricultural sector and we thank the role played by the Italian embassy.
“There are a number of new fertiliser products that we intend to introduce into the local market, and we are currently engaging agronomists in the country to see how suitable they are in this environment,” he said.
Other companies exhibiting at the show included Sint Technologie, AgroTech S&D, Afrisun Marketing, Salini Costructtori SpA, Red Graniti and Perissinotto SpA.
Zimbabwe-Italy economic ties date back to the 1950s and have generally remained constant over the years with most Italian companies operating here involved in the mining, agriculture and machinery sectors.
Ambassador Moscatelli said trade between the two countries was on an upward trend, although he could not immediately give figures. The Herald