Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08HARARE34
2008-01-17 13:40:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

HARARE 2008 BFIF PROJECT PROPOSAL

Tags:  ABUD AMGT BEXP ECON ETRD ZI 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4959
PP RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #0034/01 0171340
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 171340Z JAN 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 2392
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1816
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1721
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1847
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1124
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 1481
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1903
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 4331
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 0974
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
RHMFISS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUEHC/DEPT OF LABOR WASHDC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC//DHO-7//
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK//DOOC/ECMO/CC/DAO/DOB/DOI//
RUEPGBA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ23-CH/ECJ5M//
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000034 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

AF/S FOR S. HILL
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E.LOKEN
TREASURY FOR J. RALYEA AND T.RAND
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABUD AMGT BEXP ECON ETRD ZI
SUBJECT: HARARE 2008 BFIF PROJECT PROPOSAL

REF: A. 07 STATE 159597

B. 07 HARARE 1002

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 HARARE 000034

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

AF/S FOR S. HILL
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR L.DOBBINS AND E.LOKEN
TREASURY FOR J. RALYEA AND T.RAND
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ABUD AMGT BEXP ECON ETRD ZI
SUBJECT: HARARE 2008 BFIF PROJECT PROPOSAL

REF: A. 07 STATE 159597

B. 07 HARARE 1002


1. (U) Embassy Harare proposes to draw on the Business
Facilitation and Incentive Fund (BFIF) to support a sequel to
successful previous BFIF-funded "Just Business" fora (Refs A
and B).

--------------
"Just Business" Forum Sequel
--------------


2. (SBU) Post proposes providing financial support to the
American Business Association of Zimbabwe (ABAZ) to hold a
sequel to the BFIF-supported "Just Business" fora that the
Association held in 2006 and 2007. Building on the momentum
of the past two years' successful and provocative events,
ABAZ has begun planning of the sequel to take place in August
or September 2008, and has requested Embassy financial
support. The event will further establish "Just Business" as
Harare's pre-eminent private sector-led public address on
economic reform. Post regards the role that the business
community can play as critical in the endeavor to turn around
the Zimbabwean economy and tip Zimbabwe in the right
political direction and thus wishes to support the event. In
addition, the forum has become a sterling networking and
trade promotion opportunity for Zimbabwe's beleaguered
business community.


3. (SBU) As in 2006 and 2007, the forum is intended to
serve as a vehicle for putting reformist ideas in the public
sphere, emboldening public discussion, and underlining
Zimbabwe's need to start planning for the post-Mugabe era.
Under the theme "Just Business," the day-long event will
bring together international business leaders and analysts to
identify and deliberate over the key measures needed to right
Zimbabwe's course. Learning from past years' experience,
ABAZ intends to draw primarily on prominent indigenous
African economic analysts and business people, as they have
been the most effective speakers in drawing parallels between
their own countries' reform experiences and the challenges
that Zimbabwe faces. To build on the successful "Just
Business" theme, ABAZ envisions intensified outreach to
moderate-minded government officials to secure their
participation this year.


4. (SBU) Laying the groundwork for more public outreach,
ABAZ took the key steps this year of introducing membership
dues and hiring a management company to run a permanent
secretariat in 2007. As an indication of its increased

SIPDIS
maturity, the Association recently presented to Ambassador a
proposed work plan for 2008 that includes greater outreach
and improved communications with members of government, as
well as a membership drive, website development, and
organization of the "Just Business" forum.


5. (SBU) As the economy deteriorates further, the estimated
cost for the forum is somewhat higher than in 2007 due to the
need to import more goods and services or pay for them
locally in foreign exchange. In addition, British Airways is
unlikely to provide complimentary airfare to speakers, as it
did in the past two years, having withdrawn from the Zimbabwe
market in October 2007. The foreign exchange component of
the cost estimate is US$15,000 and includes: the venue and
refreshments for the day ($3500),transportation and per diem
for outside speakers ($4000),pre-event publicity and

HARARE 00000034 002 OF 002


communications ($4000) and follow-on media coverage and
publications ($3500). While Post once again anticipates
strong private sector financial support by ABAZ-member
companies, an event of this caliber cannot take place without
the hard currency support that BFIF provides.


6. (U) Post point of contact is econoff Frances Chisholm,
263-4-250-595, ext. 206, chisholmfm@state.gov.
MCGEE