Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga meets United Arab Emirates-based investors, Ali Gholami chief executive Javed Gholami (left) and import purchase manager Shihad Aboobacker during a courtesy call in Harare yesterday. (Photo: Innocent Makawa)
Dubai investors in horticulture breakthrough
by Mukudzei Chingwere
The horticulture cooperation agreement between Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates is expected to start bearing fruit through the setting up of operations by a Dubai-based firm, which is expected to result in a substantial increase in horticulture exports.
Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga yesterday received a delegation from Ali Gholami Vegetables and Fruits LLC, a Dubai-based concern specialising in the procurement and supply of a wide variety of fresh products for the gulf region.
In 2021, VP Chiwenga led a Zimbabwean delegation to the Expo 2020 Dubai and took advantage of his presence in Dubai to lure investment to the country as informed by President Mnangagwa’s “Zimbabwe is open for business” mantra.
The engagements saw him immersed in multi-sectoral business engagements and also had a chance to interact with representatives from Ali Gholami Vegetables and fruits LLC which has now come to invest in Zimbabwe.
Speaking after his meeting with the Dubai-based businesspeople who had called at his offices, VP Chiwenga said Ali Gholami representatives had come with good news.
“They want to come to Zimbabwe to invest in horticulture, in the production of horticulture products,” said VP Chiwenga.
Ali Gholami Vegetables and Fruits LLC chief executive Mr Javed Gholami said they were targeting the export market.
“We had a meeting with your Government sometime ago about investing in Zimbabwe and finally we have come to do that,” said Mr Gholami.
“In the last four days, we visited the farms and we are ready right now to sign the agreement and start the investment.
“This is the beginning of the investment in agriculture and after that many investors will come here.
“This is the good news we have for you and hopefully it will be very soon.
“Zimbabwe has a huge potential and we are going to hire a lot of specialists. Zimbabwe has a lot of potential in what we want to do.
“We will employ a lot of people and for our produce, we are targeting the export market around the world,” said Mr Gholami.
