The reality about Zimbabwe is far from the image portrayed in the West, as there are abundant investment opportunities, talented employees, and a government that has created an enabling environment for businesses to flourish, which constitutes the true image of this country, which is a collection of the United States. Investors said.
The US delegation, which left Zimbabwe on Tuesday night, was in the country on a three-day visit facilitated by the US Trade Service and the Zimbabwean Embassy in Washington, DC.
In an exclusive interview with the Herald just before their departure, CyberAlliance co-founder Larry Yoon said they were “surprised” by the rich opportunities that exist in Zimbabwe, especially given the negative misconceptions pushed by the West.
He said the three-day visit showed them that Zimbabwe was indeed open for business because what they experienced was far from what they expected before landing.
“I think Zimbabwe is rich with opportunity, honestly, it was refreshingly surprising because in the United States not many people have visited Zimbabwe, so when you ask people or tell them where you are going, there is apprehension or doubt but one of the reasons is the things we felt The last few days have been very welcome.
“People say Zimbabwe is open for business and we felt that and we also wanted to show the same in terms of the US also being open for business to Zimbabwe, because what we saw on the ground is very different from what we expected.
“We wanted to be able to get to market but on the right path, so for us and our business model, it’s important that we partner with local partners on the ground because they understand the nuances of how to engage here,” he said.
Mr. Yoon said they are looking forward to investing in digital technologies in all sectors of the country’s economy.
“The reason we say all (sectors) is because many of Zimbabwe’s sectors are trying to go digital and a lot of their sectors are leveraging technology to grow and sell produce and food.
“So all these things are supported by technology and Zimbabwe is a safe environment for them to be able to operate these businesses,” he said.
US investors signed a memorandum of understanding with the CEO of Round Africa, a development that Mr. Yoon said set the tone for continued engagements with Zimbabwe.
“The Memorandum of Understanding we signed with CEO Africa Roundtable was our first step in engaging in Zimbabwe. We are present in many countries across the continent, and now there is renewed US-Zimbabwe interest in being able to develop trade and cultural ties.
“We are a cybersecurity technology company based in the US but we have a focus on Africa and that focus is primarily on making sure that the promise of technology is delivered and included across all aspects of the economic spectrum and not just large companies but we also have the availability of cybersecurity technology solutions for even small businesses as well.
His counterpart and co-founder Kendral Fielder said they were impressed by Zimbabwe’s rich human resources.
“One of the things we have witnessed is how rich the country is in talent, and in terms of the story that is being told globally, you don’t expect to come and experience such talented individuals. Zimbabwe is one of the most literate countries on the entire continent, and our visit to Zimbabwe was a complete success,” he said. .
Mr Fielder said CyberAlliance also looked forward to contributing to the development of Zimbabwe through job creation.
“This is an opportunity to help create jobs within the country and not only create jobs but also be able to upskill and reskill the talent that is here on the ground, to be able to take on cybersecurity jobs so that they are not outside of it,” he said. “The resources are coming in to get “Those jobs pay well but also position those talents to be able to participate in the global cybersecurity ecosystem.”
Zimbabwe continues to attract all visitors and first time investors who respond to President Mnangagwa’s slogan ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’.
Another delegation of American investors is currently in the country on a week-long visit, indicating that Zimbabwe is truly open for business and is a friend to all and an enemy to no one as President Mnangagwa declared.
CyberAlliance is looking to invest in digital technologies and help modernize Zimbabwe.
This coincides with the ongoing call for the public and private sectors to adopt new digital technologies to stimulate the country’s efforts towards achieving Vision 2030. Herald
