eBusiness Weekly
Business Writer
Big names in Zimbabwe’s infrastructure development will week draw inspiration on how to finance and develop smart cities from international experts who are set to headline the Zimbabwe Infrastructure Summit in the resort town of Victoria Falls.
The summit comes at a time Zimbabwe has been seeking to attract global investors in infrastructure development and development of smart cities as part of the vision 2030 with the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
The economic blue-prints identify infrastructure as a key enabler to economic development.
Water and energy, information and communication technology (ICT) and transport infrastructure have all been identified as crucial in facilitating industrial activity as well as facilitating trade locally and across borders.
The summit, which will be held under the theme: “Towards Smart Cities and Smart Infrastructure to Achieve 2030 vision” seeks to aid the ongoing efforts towards embracing the smart city concept while seeks to highlight the vast investment opportunities in infrastructure that are currently available in the country.
The smart city concept focuses on the adoption of technologies such as smart grids, agritech, e-commerce, digital finance, e-grocery platforms, smart transport system, smart tourism, smart education, smart health, smart housing, and e-governance.
The summit is being organised by a local financial advisory firm, Global Renaissance Investments (GRI).
GRI CEO Ngoni Dzirutwe said it was vital for Zimbabwe to master how to access projects finance easily as well the modern technologies in construction.
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The summit will run from the 23rd to the 25th of November under the theme: “Towards Smart Cities and Smart Infrastructure to Achieve 2030 Vision.”
“Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Development expected to officiate and the following ministries to be represented ministry of local government and energy development. We are going to have the Eximbank of India representative to share on how they can finance our energy projects.
“And an American investor to help us navigate the Smart Cities with ease. Also present will be South African, Chinese, Italian and Romanian Infrastructure investors amongst others,” said Dzirutwe.
Dzirutwe said the event will also reward resilience and excellence in the sector.
“This event is to celebrate various infrastructural projects implemented and achieved so far. It is against this background that we will award excellence in the construction and infrastructure development industry.
“We seek to promote growth and workmanship through these awards especially at a time they have been trying in difficult times,” he said.
