Zimbabwean minister seeks investment for potential billion-dollar media industry in UAE

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Abu Dhabi: Zimbabwe plans to build a billion-dollar media industry and looks forward to the World Media Congress to be held in Abu Dhabi in November to find new ideas, partners and collaborators from around the world, said a senior official at WAM.

“Zimbabwe’s ‘Vision 2030’ envisions transforming the country’s 15 million people into a middle and upper income population by 2030. This will be a game-changer and plans to build a media industry from one billion dollars will help realize this vision,” said Monica Mutsvangwa, Zimbabwe’s Minister of Information, Publicity and Broadcasting.

In an exclusive interview with WAM during her official visit to Dubai, she said that the media sector in Zimbabwe is looking forward to collaborating with media organizations around the world, especially in the United Arab Emirates and the Persian Gulf, the digital content creation, website hosting and cinema. production.

“There are also many other opportunities, especially on television and radio. I believe the World Media Congress in Abu Dhabi will be a golden opportunity for us to showcase the potential of Zimbabwe’s media sector and seek partners and investors to join our efforts for future growth,” stressed Mutsvangwa.

World Media Congress

The Minister was referring to the first edition of the Global Media Congress, which will be held in Abu Dhabi from November 15-17, 2022 and organized by the Abu Dhabi National Exhibitions Company (ADNEC) under a strategic partnership with WAM.

Organized under the patronage of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the event will include a press conference and an exhibition, which will allow various media to discuss the partnership and cooperation agreements.

Prominent media leaders and global influencers, in addition to academics and students, will participate in the event, which will address several key topics such as digital communication, artificial intelligence, cutting-edge technologies and the innovation in the media sector. It will host specialized sessions covering journalism, radio, television, internet, social media and international influencers.

The event will serve as a platform for international companies interested in engaging in media markets in the Gulf region, the Middle East and North Africa, according to organizers.

Digitization of radio, television and media

The minister said Zimbabwe was keen to attend the Congress to showcase opportunities worth $1 billion in its media sector. There was only one TV channel and six radio stations for the past 40 years in Zimbabwe. However, the current government has licensed seven commercial TV channels and over 38 radio stations. “There is still a lot of potential,” she stressed.

Zimbabwe launched a digitization project in the media sector in 2015, but unfortunately due to lack of funding it was not completed, Mutsvangwa revealed.

“We would like to complete it. We are still growing. It is an industry that is still almost in its infancy. It can grow many times. There are therefore many opportunities in digitization. We would like to attract investors who can join us in securing licenses or working with local businesses to ensure that our media sector grows further,” she explained.

Zimbabwe’s media sector is also seeking training opportunities, modern studios and the latest equipment for broadcast and film production, and digitization of existing analogue TV channels, the minister said.

National Day at Expo 2020 Dubai

Major Zimbabwean media organizations showcased such opportunities at a Zimbabwe-hosted media event Friday at Expo 2020 Dubai, Mutsvangwa said.

“The media have benefited a lot from this Expo 2020. We are therefore delighted with the Expo. That’s why our media came here. Some of our country’s biggest media partners participated in the media event.

Zimbabwe will celebrate its National Day at its Expo pavilion on Monday in the presence of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa.

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