Chinese Firm Happy with Tobacco Industry

Source from:  sundaymail.co.zw By Tafadzwa Chiremba 09/23/2008

A LOCAL Chinese-owned company has expressed confidence in the country's tobacco industry saying the key export earner has shown bright prospects in terms of production and income growth. Speaking at a prize-giving day for contract farmers yesterday, the Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Yuan Nansheng, said his country's Tian Ze tobacco contract farming company had achieved meaningful results in its short stint in Zimbabwe. As a result, Mr Yuan said, the company's annual input for the tobacco- contract-farming scheme has exceeded US$10 million. "The establishment of Tian Ze company in Zimbabwe is because of the Chinese government's support for the tobacco production development in Zimbabwe. "Tian Ze has operated for four years in the country and the annual input for the contract scheme went up to US$10 million," said Mr Nansheng. Recently the company shipped into the country tractors, generators and an assortment of chemicals and inputs worth US$12 million. Mr Yuan said this was a sign of confidence in the local tobacco industry as well as the two countries' bilateral relations. "I am confident about the deepening relationship between China and Zimbabwe. Tian Ze is one of the witnesses for the friendly relationship between Zimbabwe and China," he said. Tian Ze awarded prizes to farmers under its contract scheme who made significant contribution to the company last year. Government officials and senior civil servants attended the ceremony. Enditem