Story by Owen Mandovha
THE European Union (EU) is optimistic about the inaugural EU-Zimbabwe Business Forum, scheduled for later this month, with expectations that it will help drive bilateral trade volumes beyond US$1 billion, amid strengthening relations between Harare and Brussels.
Speaking ahead of EU Day commemorations on Friday morning, EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Jobst von Kirchmann, described the forum as a strategic opportunity to deepen trade ties and attract investment in key sectors.
“We sat down with the ZNCC, CZI and ZimTrade and decided that we have three sectors, energy, horticulture, and mining that they have interest in, so EU companies will have the opportunity to invest in these sectors and our aim is to ensure that both trade and investment breach the US$ 1 billion mark,” he said.
Italy and German companies are eyeing investments in renewable energy.
“Five Italian companies are coming to the Forum and we have identified sectors that they are interested in such as horticulture,” Italy’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Umberto Malnati said.
“German companies have interests to invest in renewable energy as you know that we have record and experience to invest in these sectors,” German Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Michael Ott said.
France’s Digital Africa programme is designed to fund young entrepreneurs in the ICT and digital market who are expected to pitch their proposals, while Sweden is focused on seizing opportunities in the mining sector.
“Our Digital AFRICA project will be available to select young people with good projects in ICT so that we can fund them,” France Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Paul Betrand Barets said.
“We held an expo a few months back looking at investing in mining and the Forum will similarly lay out opportunities in the mining sector the Swedish investors,” Swedish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, His Excellency Per Lidgarde said.
The existing Economic Partnership Agreement signed with Zimbabwe has seen increased trade volumes and foreign direct investment through the scrapping of tariffs on local export merchandise hence this forum is yet another elevation of diplomatic and trade ties under the government’s engagement and reengagement drive.
