Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
ZIMBABWE continues to find ways of engaging with the global economy for political and socio-economic growth.
As the country’s engagement agenda continues on a positive trajectory, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Permanent Secretary Ambassador James Manzou this Tuesday met with the visiting delegation from Latvia, which is looking at engaging with Zimbabwe in areas of politics, trade and climate change response.
Ambassador Manzou expressed the country’s readiness to learn and engage with the European country for socio-political and economic development.
Head of the Latvia delegation; Ambassador Nils Jansons said the visit to Zimbabwe will allow his country to get a better understanding of Zimbabwe’s engagement agenda and find areas of mutual understanding by the two countries in various fields.
Meanwhile, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister, Ambassador Fredrick Shava who is in Qatar for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) meeting says the Doha Plan of Action (DPoA) promotes the achievement of inclusive and sustainable structural transformation, while striving for cooperation and engagements for growth.
Ambassador Shava noted, ‘‘My country’s pursuit of economic diplomacy through engagement and reengagement efforts has since seen our participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area with hopes to connecting with regional and global value chains.
“Solidarity with the LDCs, my country calls for enhanced international cooperation, through reinvigorated global partnerships, to address the constraints related to a lack of technological capabilities, infrastructure deficiencies (especially in digital infrastructure), low productivity and limited capacity in manufacturing and other productive sectors, a lack of economic diversification, high levels of dependence on commodities, low investment rates and limited government capacity to implement growth-oriented structural policies, which all continue to combine to impede faster progress in LDCs.
“The Doha Plan of Action (DPoA) promotes the achievement of inclusive and sustainable structural transformation, capable of increasing productivity and growth in LDCs, and we should strive towards its full implementation and achievement.’’
Ambassador Shava also noted the country’s strides towards ensuring food security, employment creation and sustainable economic growth under the National Development Strategy 1 (NDS1).
