Online Reporter
Rumbidzayi Zinyuke
Senior Reporter
Outgoing Netherlands Ambassador, Dr Margret Verwijk today paid a farewell courtesy call on President Mnangagwa at State House, marking the end of her tour of duty in Zimbabwe.
Speaking after the meeting, Ambassador Verwijk, who has been in the country since 2021, reflected on the progress made during her tenure, particularly in boosting trade and supporting value chain development.
She said when she first arrived in Zimbabwe, her key mandate was to help increase bilateral trade, a goal she believes was successfully achieved.
“Relations have really evolved. At the beginning of my stay, I was asked to work, especially on increasing bilateral trade, and guess what, we managed to double trade between the Netherlands and Zimbabwe,” she said.
The Ambassador highlighted the strategic importance of Dutch infrastructure in facilitating Zimbabwean exports.
“The Netherlands is like a gateway to Europe, which is a huge market. A lot of the horticultural produce ends up in the Netherlands supermarkets. Dutch people love the blueberries and avocados grown in Zimbabwe,” she said.
