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Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai arrives in Japan
Prime Minster's Office
July 18, 2012

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has arrived in Japan to a hectic schedule which included meetings with the Minister of Economy, Trade and Investment, Mr. Yukio Edano and leaders of multinational corporations based in Japan.

The Prime Minister, who is in Tokyo at the invitation of the Japanese Government today (Wednesday) addressed a Zimbabwe investment promotion seminar organized by the Japanese External Trade Organisation (Jetro) and Japan Oil, Gas and Mineral Exploration Corporation (JOGMEC).

In the morning, Prime Minister Tsvangirai met the Chairman of Keidanren responsible for sub-Saharan Africa, Mr. Yutaka Kase and Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) President, Professor Akihiko Tanaka. Keidanren is Japan's most powerful business federation.

In the meetings, Prime Minister Tsvangirai expressed his commitment to creating an environment conducive to business growth and international cooperation. He emphasized that only free and fair elections would address the political discord in the country.

"Zimbabwe cannot have economic growth without Foreign Direct Investment. We expect elections to be held sometime next year and we hope that a legitimate government that will be ushered in will change the country's focus from politics to economic growth and development," Prime Minister Tsvangirai told Minister Edano.

Throughout the meetings, the Japanese Minister and the business executives of leading corporates expressed concern over the controversial indigenization programme which they said affected both existing and new investment from Japan.

"The indigenization law is an obstacle to investment by Japanese companies. We hope that you will review this law as it is affecting both prospective and existing Japanese businesses," Minister Edano said.

Prime Minister Tsvangirai told the Japanese Minister that Government has set in motion processes to mitigate the excesses of the indigenization law.

The Japanese Trade minister pledged technological support to explore mineral resources in the country.

The Head of Government said he was looking forward to receiving two Japanese business delegations next month.

One of the delegations, organized by the Alliance Forum Foundation, is expected to meet Zimbabwe's ministers responsible for energy, water, health, infrastructure rehabilitation.

The delegation will comprise officials from internationally acclaimed companies such as, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Hitachi Construction sand Machinery, Central Japan Railway Company and Toyota.

Tomorrow, (Thursday 19 July), the Premier will hold a meeting with his Japanese counterpart, Prime Minister Yoshihiko Noda.

On Friday, PM Tsvangirai will give a lecture at the United Nations University in Tokyo.

He will proceed to Wellington at the invitation of the New Zealand Prime Minister, John Key.

The Premier will complete his tour in Australia where he was invited by the country's Prime Minister Julia Gillard.

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