Story by Stanley James Business Editor
MORE global economies are warming up to the government’s engagement and re-engagement agenda, with the European Union(EU), Serbia and Egypt describing Zimbabwe as a safe and viable destination for business.
This emerged after Ambassadors of the EU, Serbia and Egypt to Zimbabwe paid a courtesy call on the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu in Harare this Wednesday that the three countries have an interest in setting up projects and increasing economic ties with Zimbabwe.
“The EU continues to explore more opportunities with Zimbabwe in the fields of trade, Investment and economic cooperation, so what makes this meeting more interesting is that it was held when the EU economies also continue to explore more opportunities in Zimbabwe,” His Excellency Jobst Van Kirchmann, EU’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe said.
“For the third time in a row, I can even confirm that the EU will be taking part at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair, with more new companies from the regional bloc expected to take part. I believe we can do more riding on the current strides.”
Serbia’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Radisa Grujic, highlighted the growing strategic partnership between the two countries, focusing on boosting trade, cooperation, and economic opportunities.
“Serbia is also seriously taking Zimbabwe as a strategic partner that can also unlock value on returns to our investors, the meeting with the Minister was cordial and an eye opener in that it opened a platform on how the two countries can work with each other, boost trade and offer cooperation, there is also a business expo in Serbia where we have also invited the local companies to take part,” he said.
“This will offer an opportunity to understand business operations, project opportunities for the two countries, and accelerate cooperation in the future. We also discussed economic opportunities that exist with a view of deepening ties with a number of proposals being discussed on exchange programmes.”
Meanwhile, Her Excellency Salwa Mowafi, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Zimbabwe, highlighted the positive outcomes of discussions with the Minister, focusing on areas of cooperation, including investments in agriculture, resilience building, and manufacturing, while exploring opportunities to scale up trade in line with Zimbabwe’s diplomatic initiatives.
“The interactions with the Minister resulted in us looking at a number of areas of cooperation between the two countries, by so doing it is a reflection of the commitment to fulfill the engagement strategy,” she said.
“So we have seen the commitment by the government which is a positive element, we also discussed a wide range of issues that are anchored on investments in a number of sectors in agriculture, resilience building and manufacturing sectors we are also looking at interrogating more avenues to scale up trade within the context of diplomatic advancements initiated by the Zimbabwean government.”
The government has reaffirmed its commitment to work with global economies.
“The government remains committed to sharing ideas and exchanging information in several ways to build up cooperation with strategic partners. Basically, we had fruitful talks and discussions and promised to find each other in as much as broadening the scope of business and trade is concerned,” the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu said.
“It is now our hope that after the series of such discussions, we have to put what we have talked to reality, basically this is being done under the mantra that Zimbabwe is a friend to all and an enemy to none.”
Zimbabwe is focusing on attracting global investors in line with the National Development Strategy One aspiration of achieving at least five percent annual growth rates.
