Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Editor
ZIMBABWE is deepening engagement with the European Union across trade, culture, agriculture, and gender equality, as diplomats signal growing interest in expanding cooperation.
EU ambassadors accredited to Zimbabwe met the media in Harare on Wednesday, outlining opportunities under existing trade frameworks and broader bilateral relations.
EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe, H.E Katrin Hagemann, said the Economic Partnership Agreement provides duty-free and quota-free access to all 27 EU member states.
“We are looking to further support and expand this framework because we want to see more trade between our countries. We are particularly focusing on the horticultural sector, where we see significant potential,” she said.
German Ambassador, His Excellency Christoph Retzlaff, commended Zimbabwe’s push towards mineral value addition, describing it as a key step towards industrialisation.
“It’s definitely a positive development when a country moves towards value addition… not only supplying raw materials, but also processing them locally to create jobs and build skills,” he said, noting that Zimbabwe is not yet part of specific EU critical minerals agreements.
Beyond trade, cultural diplomacy remains central to EU engagement.
Italian Ambassador, H.E Giuseppe Giacalone, highlighted restoration work with the National Gallery of Zimbabwe, including Renaissance-era masterpieces.
Spanish Ambassador, H. E Lourdes Sangroniz, said efforts are underway to build lasting cultural partnerships through collaboration with local institutions such as University of Zimbabwe and NUST, as well as festivals and theatres.
Meanwhile, French Ambassador, His Excellency Paul-Bertrand Barets, confirmed completion of the Great Zimbabwe Rehabilitation Project, which includes a new visitor centre and enhanced interpretive facilities at Great Zimbabwe.
Zimbabwe’s expanding engagement with the European Union forms part of its broader engagement and re-engagement policy, with trade, investment and cultural cooperation at the forefront.
