Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Editor
GOVERNMENT says the World Economic Forum offers a valuable opportunity for Zimbabwe to highlight its economic diplomacy achievements since the launch of the Second Republic.
In recent years, the country has recorded meaningful economic growth driven by strong political partnerships. Since its first invitation to the Davos, Switzerland, forum in 2018, Zimbabwe has consistently leveraged the World Economic Forum to advance its political and economic interests on the global stage.
The Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, Professor Amon Murwira, says the 2026 edition which is running from January 19 to 23, is an opportunity to advance President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s interests in diplomacy, trade, and industry policies crucial in ensuring sustainable development.
“I am with the Honourable Minister, Professor Mthuli Ncube, our Minister for Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion. And we are going to give contributions in topics that include trade and industrial policy. We are going to have more than 80 heads of state and government attending this forum,” he said.
“His Excellency the President started attending this forum in 2018, and since then, Zimbabwe has been attending, either his excellency himself or being represented. This shows the topical nature of economic diplomacy and how His Excellency is pursuing economic diplomacy for Zimbabwe. Through his efforts of this economic diplomacy, last year, our exports went up to US$16 billion, up from US$2 billion when he inherited the economy, when he started the Second Republic. In terms of GDP, when His Excellency inherited the Second Republic, was around US$16 billion, and now he has grown it up to more than US$52 billion, which is exactly the importance of economic diplomacy.
“Economic diplomacy is the cornerstone of His Excellency Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa’s foreign policy, and this is how Zimbabwe has been going. It is open for business. It is a friend to all and an enemy to none, and pursuing the overall objective of engagement and re-engagement, and this forum, the World Economic Forum, is exactly where world leaders meet,” he said.
He also highlighted platforms that Zimbabwe will take part in during the forum.
“President Mnangagwa, was invited to give a talk on two topics. The first one is a diplomatic dialogue on business in Africa, where we are going to submit remarks on behalf of President Mnangagwa, and the other one is to focus on the Forum for the Friends of the African Continental Free Trade Area. These are very important topics that His Excellency already submitted contributions on. So we are going to represent him in these two very important sub-forums of the World Economic Forum,” Professor Murwira said.
Other issues up for deliberation, according to the Foreign Minister, include innovation, artificial intelligence, sustainable development, and skills development in contemporary times.
