Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
ZIMBABWE and The Netherlands concur engagements in areas such as agriculture, education and governance are deepening the existing cordial relations between the two countries.
In marking Netherlands Day in Harare this Wednesday, the Netherlands’representative to Harare Her Excellency Margret Verwijk said her country is invested in doing business with Zimbabwe.
She also applauded compensation to farmers covered under the Bilateral Investment Protection and Promotion Agreements (BIPPAs) which government began paying out in February this year.
“There are around 26 Dutch companies already invested, all doing business in Zimbabwe, especially in the agriculture sector. The Netherlands has outstanding expertise in boosting food production. This is the result of the Dutch diamond approach which entails cooperation between businesses, academia, civil society, and government. I applaud and celebrate the payout of a first installment of compensation for Dutch BIPA farmers that lost investments during the land reform process. This followed extensive dialogue, excellent cooperation between parties. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the Zimbabwean government who worked so hard to make this historic milestone possible. The full compensation of beeper farmers will be a very important step forward,” she said.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade Honourable Sheillah Chikomo said collaborative efforts with the Netherlands has contributed significantly to improving the lives of many Zimbabweans.
“On behalf of the Government of Zimbabwe, we would like to extend our appreciation for the encouraging letter of appreciation addressed to His Excellency the President regarding the first initial payout of the BIPPA compensation. We believe that such engagement, encourage and acknowledge, is necessary for continued growth of our bilateral relations. In particular, we acknowledge the work being done in the area of sustainable development. Zimbabwe, like many countries across the globe, faces challenges related to climate change, food security and access to clean water. The Netherlands has been at the forefront of efforts to address these challenges through innovative solutions and partnerships. Your leadership in promoting climate resilience, sustainable agriculture and water management is an example we admire and we look forward to further strengthening cooperation in this area,” she said.
Honourable Chikomo noted that Zimbabwe is encouraged by collaboration with Netherlands in trade and investment, climate change response and cultural exchange.
“We are encouraged by the potential for further collaboration in a variety of fields, which includes trade and investment, education and innovation, science and technology development. We also look forward to exploring opportunities for cultural exchange, which will foster greater mutual understanding and strengthen our people-to-people ties. Today, as we join you in celebrating your National Day, we are reminded that the strength of our relationship lies not only in the formal agreements and partnerships between our governments, but also in the bonds of friendship and respect that we have cultivated over time,” Deputy Minister Chikomo said.
The Netherlands Day which is the King’s Day, is a national holiday in the Kingdom of the Netherlands celebrated on April 27, annually, marking the birth of King Willem-Alexander.
