Harare — A 13-member high-level business delegation from the Confederation of Indian Industry is in the country on a three-day working visit to explore existing business opportunities.

Speaking during a visit to the Ministry of Finance yesterday, the head of delegation, CII's Indian Business Forum South Africa chairman and Tata Africa managing director Mr Raman Dhawan said they were interested in a number of fields including mining, IT, automobile, infrastructure development, construction, banking, finance and pharmaceuticals.

"We are aware of the Short-Term Emergency Recovery Programme and the Private Public Partnership Programme and we want to see where we can come in as industry," he said.

Speaking on behalf of his company, Mr Dhawan said they were mainly interested in providing vehicles from their diverse range of automobiles and at the same time seek opportunities in the processing of chrome.

"We are looking at setting up a smelter for ferrochrome because we are aware that there are large deposits of chrome in the country," he said.

CII's director and head for Africa, Ms Shipra Tripathi said their main concern was on incentives that could be extended to them if they should decide to invest in the country.

"We are looking at tailor-made incentives for us that go beyond the normal," she said.

She said her organisation had a membership of 8 000 direct members and about 6 000 indirect members.

The secretary for Finance, Mr Willard Manungo who met with the delegation said it had come at an opportune time when Government was seeking partners to help it finance and implement Sterp.

Mr Manungo said the inclusive Government has brought a new dispensation in the country and had implemented measures that has helped stabilise the economy and also helped lower issues as inflation.

He, however, said more reforms would require the support of the private sector since Government could not go it alone.

"As Government we recognise the role of the private sector as the engine that will drive our various initiatives," he said.

Apart from the visit to the Ministry of Finance, the delegation also met with Transport, Communication and Infrastructural Development Minister, Nicholas Goche and Minister of Industry and Commerce, Welshman Ncube.

The delegation was also expected to meet Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu, Information Communication Technology Minister Nelson Chamisa and Health and Child Welfare Minister Dr Henry Madzorera late yesterday.

The delegation will today meet with officials from the Industrial Development Corporation, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries, Zimtrade and Zimbabwe Investment Authority before winding up their visit tomorrow.

The visit comes on the heels of several other visits by different delegation notably one from South Africa and another one from Botswana early this year.

Zimbabwe is slowly becoming one of the most sought after investment destination following the creation of the all-inclusive Government which is credited with the implementation of various reforms that have brought about economic stability.