AgriBusiness Forum 2011, 16-19 October
Prime Minister Morgan Richard Tsvangirai presented Zimbabwe’s potentially vast and profitable agro-business sector and called on investors to join him in returning the country to economic growth and stability during the EMRC-UNDP AgriBusiness Forum from 16-19 October 2011 in Johannesburg, South Africa.
"Agriculture is the backbone of the Zimbabwean economy, and as such it must be supported. We must move from food crisis to food security,” he states. "The country requires strategic partners as well as strategic investors to move forward on a sustainable economic path. We cannot say enough of what needs to be done in Zimbabwe.’’
Although the country’s agricultural recovery has been slow, it accounts for 19% of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, 25% of the country’s export earnings and employing 0.5 million people, with tobacco, cotton and horticulture contributing 30% of export earnings.
The Prime Minister brought a message of hope and clearly tell the AgriBusiness Forum audience that the country’s goal is to move away from the current political crisis and move towards an economic thrust to improve the livelihoods of the population.