Sweet Deal: Zimbabwe and African Sugar Association...

Sweet Deal: Zimbabwe and African Sugar Associations form major business partnership

Audrey Galawu

The Zimbabwe Sugar Association has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the African Sugar Producers Association to strengthen cooperation and collaboration in the sugar sector.

The MoU was signed during a sugar value chain tour to Brazil, where the two associations learned about best practices in the production, processing, and marketing of sugar.

APLA is a Brazilian non-profit association that brings together companies, public and private institutions linked to the sugarcane sector, covering the entire agribusiness chain of cane sugar from the development of industrial and agricultural technologies, manufacturing machines and equipment, development of sugarcane varieties and provide various services until the effective participation in the development and structuring of markets.

Speaking to Zim Now, National Competitiveness Commission spokesperson Onwell Masaraure said the essence of the MoU is to establish a co-operative strategic business partnership with each other that includes development and facilitation of sugar industry and other industries in the Republic of Zimbabwe and Africa.

“This cooperation is committed to the creation of timely and appropriate business opportunities beneficial to both parties through sharing their information, coordinating their efforts and employing their resources and all other means available.

“Both parties mutually agreed whether to form a Joint-Venture or any other form of business entity best suited to proceed with projects implementation and in accordance with the following steps to be undertaken by both parties as per the terms and conditions set hereby with this MOU.

“There is need to improve the competitiveness of the local sugar value chain by benchmarking with Brazil and learn from them since the country is the largest producer of sugar in the world.

“We will benefit in terms of technology transfer and exchange of technical know-how. Technology transfer for the development of the Greenfield and green harvesting techniques in sugar cane projects.

“Operation and maintenance training programmes, strategy and research development for the sugar sector and the usage of the sugar industry by-products,” said Masaraure.

Masaraure added that a holistic approach involving all players and actors to managing challenges affecting the sugar industry and benchmarking with other top sugar producing countries in the region and beyond is vital in order to improve the sugar value chain in the country.

According to the NCC July progress report, the sector is facing several challenges and stiff competition from the non-fortified sugar imports which necessitated the industry to continuously increase the price of sugar and its related products compared to comparator countries such as Zambia.