Harare — A high-powered Zimbabwean business delegation leaves for Israel this week to explore new trade opportunities as well as learn from the Middle East nation on developing the economy.

Companies involved in agriculture, telecommunications, cosmetic and energy will make the week-long trip set for 19-25 July.

Organisers of the tour, Christian Friends of Israel Zimbabwe, told New Ziana yesterday that a number of business forums had been lined-up with major Israeli companies to allow local firms an opportunity to strike partnerships.

Director Yisrael Yehudah who was in Israel last week to finalise some of the arrangements, said the group would tour a dairy project, an irrigation scheme, a green house and a solar energy plant.

"The delegation leaves for Israel this Saturday," Yehudah said, adding preparations for the trip had gone well.

"We will visit a number of multi-owned establishments specialising in dairy products, fishing, banana plantation as well as tourism," he said.

Yehudah said the group would also tour agricultural and cosmetic companies.

He said Israel had vast business opportunities for the country to tap into and improve its economy.

"We will get an opportunity to see how Israel has managed to be a force to reckon with in solar energy," he said, adding Zimbabwe should follow suit as it had an abundance of sunshine.

"The trip will greatly help Zimbabwean businesspeople broaden their horizon and improve production. It will also help improve their relations with Israel," Yehudah said.

Israel, with a population of less than seven million, export goods worth about US$30 billion yearly.