Story by Margaret Matibiri
ZIMBABWE and Mozambique have reaffirmed their commitment to deepening economic cooperation during a state dinner hosted by President Emmerson Mnangagwa in honour of the visiting Mozambican President Daniel Chapo, who is in Bulawayo to officially open the 65th Edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair(ZITF).
In his address, President Mnangagwa underscored the growing momentum in bilateral trade and investment between the two countries, highlighting increased collaboration in agriculture, energy, transport, tourism, manufacturing, and mining.
“Efforts towards enhancing investment and trade between our two countries continue to yield intended results, with heightened Business-to-Business exchanges in the fields of agriculture, energy, transport, tourism,
manufacturing and mining, among others. Meanwhile,
initiatives in the environmental space, are advancing the
conservation agenda and climate change mitigation.” President Mnangagwa said.
The President welcomed the participation of a high-level Mozambican business delegation at the ZITF Business Roundtable and applauded the presence of Mozambican companies on the exhibition floor.
“The presence of a high-level business delegation from Mozambique, at the ZITF Business Roundtable, is appreciated. Further, the exhibition from
Mozambique-based companies demonstrate a joint quest to increase investment and trade volumes between our two countries.”
President Mnangagwa also spotlighted the strategic importance of shared infrastructure, emphasising the potential impact of the Ponta Techobanine Project, a transformative logistics and transport corridor linking Zimbabwe to the Indian Ocean through Mozambique.
“The importance of shared cross-border infrastructure towards accelerating multi-pronged industrialisation, modernisation and overall development cannot be over-emphasised. We, thus, look forward to the
implementation of the landmark Ponta Techobanine Project, which will have far-reaching spill-offs on our two economies.,” he stated.
In a nod to the long-standing political ties between ZANU-PF and FRELIMO, the President reaffirmed the countries’ shared revolutionary legacy and commitment to regional sovereignty.
