A Russian billionaire, Dmitry Mazepin met the President of Zimbabwe this morning raising hope for more investors to help revive the industrial sector that has been struggling in the country. Mazepin, who flew into the country on Tuesday evening is one of the top 100 of the richest people in Russia according to Forbes.
The business mogul, after meeting Presidents Emmerson Mnangagwa said he is interested in partnering with Zimbabwe in the fertilizer manufacturing, agriculture and mining according to states media. The state media also reports that Mazepin went on to meet the Minister of Industry and Commerce Dr Mike Bimha and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Lt. General Sibusiso Moyo (Retired).
Zimbabwe receives Mazepin after a delegation led by the country’s President participated with world leaders in Davos. The delegation met with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Christine Lagarde and World Bank chief executive officer Kristalina Georgieva as Zimbabwe has arrears of over a billion US Dollars to both global and continental financial institutions.
The President told investors and other countries leaders that Zimbabwe is open for investment and that the nation is ready to engage the world after years of international isolation. The delegation from Zimbabwe to Davos included the Minister of Finance and Economic Planning Patrick Chinamasa and the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ) Governor Dr John Mangudya.
Zimbabwe is also to receive the Russian Minister of Foreign Affairs Sergey Lavrov according to the state media in what seems to be a response to calls for an end to international isolation The country has already received the Minister for Africa for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Affairs this year.