Take advantage of India's high growth trajectory: Naidu to Zimbabwe cos

Zimbabwean companies can take advantage of the current high growth trajectory of the Indian economy, Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said here Saturday.

He said India and Zimbabwe have shared very cordial relationship that dates back to the 17th century when they were trading in metals, minerals and textiles, however, the economic ties between the two nations have not fully reflected their immense potential.

The bilateral trade between the two nations stands at just over $230 million and investment at $500 million, which is "far below the potential".

"There are natural synergies and complementarities between the two economies and we need to tap them for our mutual benefit. Zimbabwean companies can take advantage of the current high growth trajectory of the Indian economy," he said while addressing the India-Zimbabwe Business Forum here.

India, one of the fastest growing major economies in the world, with a current growth rate of 8.2% is on course to become a 5 trillion economy by 2025. The country has recently become the 6th largest economy in the world with a GDP of $2.6 trillion.

"Indian companies could form partnerships in Zimbabwe both for the domestic economy and for the wider Southern African Development Community (SADC) and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa(COMESA)," Naidu said.

The Vice President said the key areas with potential for two-way trade and investment engagement include mining, equipment manufacture, information and communication technology, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, food processing, auto components, medical devices, defence production, infrastructure and tourism sectors.

Small and Medium Enterprises (SME) sector is key to India's economy. As Zimbabwe's economy is also largely based on SME sector, it can benefit from India's experience, he said.

Inviting Zimbabwe companies to set up their business in India, Naidu quoted the World Bank's 'Doing Business 2019' report which said that India, which advanced to 77th place in the global ranking, is now the region's top-ranked economy. "Starting a business was made easier through consolidation of multiple application forms and introduction of a Goods and Services Tax (GST)," the report stated.

"India is changing rapidly. The business environment is changing for the better. The archaic regulations are being dismantled. Seamless processes are being introduced," Naidu said.

Later in the evening, Naidu laid a wreath at the National Heroes Acre, a memorial housing the remains of those people who sacrificed their lives in Zimbabwe's struggle for independence.

He will leave for Malawi on Sunday on the last leg of his six-day three-nation tour to Africa, which aims at deepening India's strategic cooperation with Botswana, Zimbabwe and Malawi.