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Innocent Ruwende Senior Reporter
Canadian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Kumar Gupta, yesterday paid a courtesy call on Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko at his Munhumutapa offices, where the two leaders discussed several issues including ways to attract investors into the country.
Briefing journalists after the meeting, Mr Gupta said the discussions were also centred on gender and developmental issues.
“We talked about Canada and Zimbabwe relations. We looked at a strong focus on gender issues, child marriage issues, key priorities for Canada as a country. We also discussed broader social and human rights questions. We also looked at economic issues and attracting Canadian FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) into Zimbabwe.
“Currently, our strong focus is on the development side focusing on maternal new born child health and is largely through the UN country team. We also put a strong focus on child marriage particularly through Plan International but also through our small project fund at the grassroots level,” he said.
Mr Gupta said Canada’s strong focus would be on gender equality, which was made one of the important issues by Canadian Prime Minister Mr Justin Trudeau.
“Our Prime Minister sent a very strong signal on the key issues of the day. When he established his own cabinet in 2015 it was 50-50 percent, 15 men and 15 women. We take that as a very strong signal from the very top for Canada,” he said.
Mr Gupta said the Canadian Government was currently going under a comprehensive review of its international assistance envelope so he could not speak on future aid to Zimbabwe.
He said his country recognised the challenges being faced in the context of food and security by Zimbabweans and his country already provided $1,5 million for assistance through the World Food Programme.
Last year outgoing Canadian envoy Ms Lisa Stadelbauer, who returned to her country after a four-year service, said there was need for Harare and Ottawa to improve economic relations for mutual benefit.
Online Reporter