France’s economic arm to visit in October

Wallace Ruzvidzo in PARIS, France

FRANCE’s leading economic diplomacy arm, the Movement of Enterprises of France (MEDEF), is set to visit Zimbabwe in October following extensive engagements with Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga, who informed them of the massive investment opportunities in the country.

The visit by MEDEF represents yet another milestone scored by President Mnangagwa’s administration in its engagement and re-engagement pursuits.

VP Chiwenga and his wife Colonel Miniyothabo Baloyi-Chiwenga also attended a reception at the invitation of French President Emmanuel Macron at his Presidential Palace here yesterday.

Before attending the reception, which was graced by other world leaders, the VP visited the Zimbabwean Embassy in France where he expressed satisfaction with the work being done by the diplomatic office.

“We have a team from MEDEF here, which I met two days ago, which is due to come to Zimbabwe to look into various areas and make concrete proposals which they want to come and do in our country. And it’s a serious team, as you know,” he said.

“. . . the embassy is doing very well and they had prepared all the teams which we were supposed to meet with.

“I think I am proud of them, and when we even met briefly with the President here in France, they were prepared.”

VP Chiwenga apprised the Embassy staff on developments back home, including President Mnangagwa’s assumption of the SADC Chairmanship at the bloc’s 44th Summit of Heads of State next month.

“The Embassy staff here, led by the Charge d’Affairs Mr Emmanuel Zinyuke, we briefed them about the developments back in Zimbabwe, the political status of Zimbabwe.

“We are now expecting to get the Chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community, where our President is going to be the chair of SADC. And the preparations are ongoing.

“We briefed them on the economic developments back at home in terms of our mining, energy and tourism,” he said.

VP Chiwenga said he had also given them a clear guideline on the Second Republic’s developmental strategy.

He also charged the Zimbabwe office in France to continue furthering Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement efforts.

“We gave them quite in detail what the Government is doing and what we expect them as an embassy to be doing to assist investors who want to come to Zimbabwe.

“And of course, on the social aspect, the effects of El Nino and what the Government has done, so that they are quite clear on where we are going in terms of our National Development Strategy and our vision, as stated by His Excellency the President”.

After the reception, VP Chiwenga attended the official opening of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games.

Zimbabwe has seven athletes who will compete at the games in athletics, rowing and swimming.

In the athletics field, Zimbabwe will be represented by sprinters Makanakaishe Charamba and Tapiwanashe Makarawu, who both qualified for the 200m dash, while Isaac Mpofu and Rutendo Nyahora will partake in the marathon.

Paige van der Westhuizen and Denilson Cyprianos will represent the country in swimming while Stephen Cox will compete in rowing.