Online Reporter
Rutendo Nyeve, [email protected]
ZIMBABWE’S engagement and re-engagement policy continues to gain international traction, with a high-powered delegation of more than 30 leading business executives from Romania and Hungary arriving in the country yesterday.
The visit marks renewed global confidence in the country’s economic and tourism outlook.
The delegation landed at Victoria Falls International Airport, one of the country’s flagship gateways, underlining the growing appeal of Zimbabwe as both an investment destination and a premier tourism hub.
Their visit comes at a time when Zimbabwe has received global endorsement after being named the best country to visit in 2025 by Forbes, a recognition that has amplified international interest.
The visit follows a targeted destination marketing and economic diplomacy campaign spearheaded by Zimbabwe’s Embassy in Berlin, Germany, highlighting the Second Republic’s proactive approach to re-establishing ties with Europe and unlocking new trade, tourism and investment partnerships.
Led by the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Romania, Mr Vornic Sorin, the delegation was received by Deputy Minister of Tourism and Hospitality Industry, Tongai Mnangagwa, who described the visit as a clear dividend of President Mnangagwa’s engagement and re-engagement policy.
Speaking on arrival, Mr Sorin said the mission was about rebuilding long-standing relations and translating goodwill into tangible economic co-operation.
“We came here with a strong delegation of 35 people, who want to discover Zimbabwe because for a long time there was no big connection between us, although our friendship is long,” he said.
“This visit is about rekindling co-operation between our two countries — economically, through business, but also culturally.”
Mr Sorin said each delegate represents a major company in Romania, with interests spanning multiple sectors, and stressed that the group’s ambition goes beyond familiarisation.
“We want to strengthen connections so that businessmen from Zimbabwe meet businessmen from Romania, both here and in Romania,” he said.
Mr Sorin said commercial relations are the foundation, adding that once trade grows, everything else follows.
“We want to start commercial connections because, based on the commercial relations between our countries, everything will be developed. Friendships, culture, everything will be developed and we can be stronger nations together,” he said.
Mr Sorin credited Zimbabwe’s diplomatic outreach in Europe for catalysing the visit.
“We chose Zimbabwe because we have the information from your Embassy in Berlin, Germany, where we have been informed about many opportunities for win-win co-operation between Romanian and Zimbabwean businesses,” he said.
“We are not here just to say hello. We want facts and real outcomes. As businessmen, reality matters most.”
Echoing this sentiment, Ms Irina Moresan, who represents Romania’s fast-growing technology sector, said the delegation was keen to explore both commercial opportunities and people-to-people connections.
“We want to learn a lot of good things about Zimbabwe, about the nature, about the culture and traditions, but also we want to get to know you as people,” she said.
“I am in the technology business and we want to see what opportunities exist here and whether we can grow together.
Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said the visit demonstrated the tangible results of the Government’s engagement and re-engagement thrust, which seeks to re-position Zimbabwe as an open, peaceful and investment-ready destination.
“Well, it’s exciting today, where we have got 35 Romanians who came in. You know, it’s a mixed group. Some are here for business. We give opportunities. Some are here for holiday, but you find it’s paying what we do as the tourism ministry, advertising,” he said.
Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe is peaceful, welcoming and full of opportunities. He said when people come, the Government facilitates their seamless entry, and they return home as the country’s ambassadors. “So, when such groups come, as a ministry, we make sure we receive them. We facilitate their seamless entry. They go back and become the ambassadors for Zimbabwean tourism,” he said.
Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said the delegation had already pledged to mobilise more business missions through their Chamber of Commerce, targeting key sectors such as mining, agriculture, manufacturing and tourism infrastructure.
“They will bring more investors who want to explore mining, farming, manufacturing and other areas. As Team Tourism, we are excited to see the fruits of the work of the Second Republic,” he said.
Deputy Minister Mnangagwa said the visit not only reinforces Zimbabwe’s growing international re-engagement footprint, but also builds on the global spotlight created by its Forbes accolade, positioning the country as a credible, competitive and compelling destination for business and leisure alike.
During their stay, the delegation is expected to tour Victoria Falls, hold business-to-business meetings with local companies and conduct first-hand assessments of investment opportunities in agriculture, mining, information technology and tourism development.
