October 03, 2006	Tuesday	Ramazan 9, 1427

HARARE, Oct 2: A delegation of some 50 Russian business leaders was in Zimbabwe on Monday for talks with senior officials about investment opportunities in the southern African country.

Officials from both countries said that the discussions would include talks about possible mining investments in Zimbabwe, which is rich in minerals such as platinum and uranium.

“So far what is clear is that they (Russians) are interested in exploring business opportunities in telecommunications and mining areas,” Economic Development Minister Rugare Gumbo told AFP without giving further details.

Oleg Scherbak, Russia's ambassador to Harare, said that the delegation's interests were wide-ranging.

“These investors have various business interests ranging from transport, power and mining to tourism, telecommunications and agriculture,” he told the state-owned Herald newspaper.

Harare has strong political links with Moscow dating back to its pre-independence days and Russia was the only European nation invited to observe the disputed 2002 elections won by long-time President Robert Mugabe.

Moscow has also been showing increasing interest in possible investment opportunities in the region. President Vladimir Putin led a large business delegation to South Africa last month when a number of mining deals were inked.—AFP