The Zimbabwean Diaspora Organisation (ZIDO) is spearheading efforts to attract global investment into Zimbabwe, with its upcoming UK Zim Business Expo 2025 in October expected to draw over 5,000 attendees from across the world.

Nicole Jamu, ZIDO’s Marketing and Communications Manager, revealed during a side interview last Friday that the organization is creating a platform for diverse business sectors, including key government policymakers, to foster economic growth in Zimbabwe and the wider African continent.

“We are the brand that’s spearheading the Zim Business Expos. We have done the Zimbabwe Business Expo. We had our Zim SA Business Expo this past May. And we are now getting into our third leg of the UK Zim Business Expo 2025. That’s happening from the 2nd to the 4th of October in Birmingham.

“Our main focus with the Expo is to just get different people from different business sectors in one room. And that also includes our policy makers as well to just help to accelerate our drive when it comes to economic growth in Zimbabwe. And ultimately on the continent as well,” she said.

She added that the expo aims to connect international investors and Zimbabwean diaspora with local business opportunities, with a strong focus on the mining sector.

“So we have people who are directly involved in creating the conducive business environment for the country and particularly for the mining sector. And I’m proud to say that for the last one, that is the Zim SA Business Expo, we had five ministries present.

“So obviously, mining being one of the biggest industries in the country right now and also being on an upward trajectory. I mean, we’re registering growth in gold and lithium and the like. So it’s definitely on top of our list.

“We are hoping to have ministries that are directly linked to mining and those that are in finance as well. So you also get to hear from the policy makers themselves. But aside from that, we also have players in the mining industry themselves.

“So you will get an opportunity to network amongst yourselves as players who are contributing to the mining sector. Again, on the Zim SA Business Expo, we had the Zimbabwe Miners Federation present. We also had organisations like Zim Trade, which specialise in trading of commodities that come from outside the country.