France eyes closer research and innovation cooperation with Zimbabwe

Sifelani Tsiko – Innovations Editor

France is hoping to promote long-term scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation between Zimbabwean and

French research institutions to help tackle new and emerging global problems on climate change, health, wildlife and

development issues, French Ambassador to Zimbabwe Paul-Bertrand Barets says.

He said this after touring the University of Zimbabwe Biotechnology Centre laboratory where a Biotechnology Platform open

day was held recently.

“I am so happy that we have high-level researchers working with excellent researchers in Zimbabwe,” Barets said.

“I appreciate that you have recognised our value-adding input.”
Berets said all countries across the world were now facing an increased risk and high burden of infectious disease outbreaks such as Covid and others.

“It is something that is of interest to all of us. This is a global issue, it is not a French or Zimbabwean question,” he said.

“We are working to tackle global issues and therefore you can be sure that we will continue in this direction. Be sure that you can count on your French partners for the future.”

CIRAD, a French agricultural research and cooperation organisation in partnership with the UZ Faculty of Veterinary Science held a Biotechnology Platform open day to showcase the role of the UZ Biotechnology Centre Laboratory in the diagnosis, monitoring, surveillance and control of animal diseases.

The UZ laboratory was established with support from CIRAD under the PACMAN project funded by the AFD – a French development agency to provide comprehensive services for diagnosis and characterisation of all emerging pathogens.

Scientists at UZ working in partnership with CIRAD researchers were now able to carry out diagnostic and research on diseases such as Mpox, Covid, Marburg, Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever, foot and mouth disease (FMD) and Newcastle among others.

Barets said France remains committed to strengthening bilateral ties with Zimbabwe, particularly in the rehabilitation of the Great Zimbabwe

Monument and in the fields of scientific research on health, climate change, renewable energy, ending human-wildlife conflicts and all other efforts that aim to preserve the environment and the planet.