Zim aims for top spot in carbon steel production

ZIMBABWE is now on a sustainable economic growth path following a number of interventions and is set to become one of the top carbon steel producers in sub-Saharan Africa in the next three years on the back of game-changing investments by wealthy global investors, Finance and Economic Development Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube has said.

Speaking in an interview with CNBC Africa on the sidelines of the recent World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos, Switzerland, Prof Ncube said Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa deserved special treatment in global economic affairs because of the various endowments available mainly in the mining sector and human resources, due to a generally young population.

He said in Zimbabwe, more investors continued to enquire about opportunities they could take up in mining, agriculture and tourism, among others.

The delegation's message at the WEF, that "Zimbabwe is open for business" in all sectors of the economy, was "very clear".

"For example, there are opportunities in mining, where we have had great successes.

In the mining space, we expect that Zimbabwe will be one of the largest carbon steel producers in sub-Saharan Africa in the next three ears due to investments that are currently taking place," said Prof Ncube.

"We have got three projects that are very interesting in that sector. In the lithium space again, we are a major producer of lithium in the world; number five in the world and in Africa we are joint top with South Africa.