Story by Abigirl Tembo
ZIMBABWE is expanding engagement with international partners to promote inclusive economic growth, women’s empowerment and social development.
This came out when the Minister of Women Affairs, Community, Small and Medium Enterprises Development, Senator Monica Mutsvangwa met with envoys from India and the European Union in Harare this Wednesday.
Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, H.E Bramha Kumar, says his engagement with Minister Mutsvangwa focused on reinforcing long-standing bilateral relations and exploring opportunities to deepen cooperation in SMEs, women empowerment and skills development.
He highlighted India’s experience in linking enterprise growth with financial inclusion, capacity building and cluster development.
“Our main discussion was to reaffirm that India and Zimbabwe are closely connected countries. We shared our historical ties and are now focusing on how SMEs and women empowerment can be strengthened through financing, skills development and cluster models. We also agreed to expand cooperation through capacity building, training programmes and expert exchanges, as our relationship is based on mutual respect and mutual benefit.”
Meanwhile, European Union Ambassador to Zimbabwe, H.E Katrin Hagemann, disclosed her meeting with Minister Mutsvangwa centred on sustaining progress in gender equality, addressing gender-based violence and supporting SMEs, particularly in rural communities.
“We discussed ways to continue supporting women, men, young people and communities, especially in rural areas, and how to address gender-based violence more effectively. We want to see more women in business, more women in leadership, and stronger access to markets beyond Zimbabwe, including Europe.”
Senator Monica Mutsvangwa welcomed the engagements’ productivity and underscored Zimbabwe’s commitment to learning from global partners while strengthening local capacity.
“There is a lot we can learn from India in terms of supporting SMEs, especially around skills, digital financial inclusion and value addition. At the same time, we are excited about continuing our work with the European Union in sustaining the gains on gender-based violence, ensuring that every woman and every girl is protected and empowered. These partnerships are key in driving inclusive development,” she said.
The meetings reflect Zimbabwe’s growing focus on leveraging international cooperation to drive inclusive economic growth, strengthen SMEs and advance gender equality as the country moves towards achieving its Vision 2030 development goals.
