Online Reporter
Debra Matabvu in Osaka, Japan
President Mnangagwa is expected to arrive here today, where he will headline Zimbabwe’s National Day at the World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai on Wednesday.
The national day will be preceded by a business forum tomorrow with the President expected to lead a high-level investment conference aimed at promoting Zimbabwe’s vast opportunities to Japanese investors and other international business delegations.
During his visit, President Mnangagwa is also expected to meet and interact with scores of Zimbabweans living in Japan.
The engagements are part of efforts to strengthen economic cooperation and deepen bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Japan.
In an interview, Zimbabwe Ambassador to Japan, Mr Steward Nyakotyo, said the events were an opportunity to showcase the country’s cultural heritage, current socio- economic developments and investment opportunities.
“We are very excited and we are grateful that His Excellency has found it necessary to travel all the way to Japan to spearhead our national efforts, to showcase our country, to showcase the country’s potential,” Ambassador Nyakotyo said.
“Potential in the area of tourism, our national heritage, our economy, investments in various sectors, and also innovation in general in the various fields that our economy is currently engaged in.
“We are very glad that we will be having an opportunity for Zimbabwe to showcase itself here in Japan as the only country which is hosting its national day on July 16.
“We will be the centre of attention. Everybody will be coming to the Zimbabwean pavilion to see what we are exhibiting, and also to come to our national day celebration.”
He said Zimbabwe has lined up a number of cultural activities that will help showcase the country’s socio-economic development.
“His Excellency the President will be the guest of honour. And the event will start with the raising of the flag, followed by the national anthem, which will be sung for Zimbabwe and for Japan,” he added.
“After the President delivers his national statement, there will be a program of cultural activities. And we have performances that our artists from Zimbabwe will be conducting at that time.
“The artists have travelled to perform the different cultural dances from all corners of Zimbabwe, as part of showcasing of our culture.
“So we are glad we are here to show Japan and to share with Japanese, as well as other people from corners of the world who are here, our culture, our economy, our people, and what we have to offer as a member of the international community.”
Ambassador Nyakotyo also applauded the already existing economic relationship between the two countries.
“We have also received a lot of support from Japan for manpower development in Zimbabwe, as well as cooperation in mining, where we are training our engineers from Zimbabwe here in Japan,” he added.
“In terms of development assistance, Japan has been a consistent partner of Zimbabwe and has supported our development programs in health, in agriculture, infrastructure.
“As you may be aware, Japan is currently supporting our North-South Corridor, that is the road which goes up to Zambia, Chirundu.
“Under a grant project, it’s developed much further and we are now at an advanced stage where we are expanding that road network at Marongora up to the Lions Den. So we have a lot happening in our relations.
“In addition, there are prospects for Japanese companies to invest here in Zimbabwe, in various sectors, in the manufacturing, in the mining, as well as in the tourism sector, among others.”
Zimbabwe is among 158 countries and seven international organisations participating in Expo 2025 Osaka, which started on April 13 and runs until October 13.
The expo is a global event held every five years to showcase innovations and ideas that tackle some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Under the overarching theme “Designing future society for our lives”, Expo 2025 Osaka aims to foster international collaboration, innovation and cultural exchange.
This year’s event is being held in Osaka, Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area, and is expected to attract millions of visitors from around the world.
