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Joseph Madzimure, Zimpapers Politics Hub
SERBIA is open and ready to be the bridge of African states, especially Zimbabwe, in furthering cooperation in the European Union and other developed states.
As one of the successor states of Yugoslavia, Serbia is regarded as a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement, which Zimbabwe is also a part of, with formal diplomatic relations between Yugoslavia and Zimbabwe established in 1980.
The Second Republic’s stance of being a friend to all and an enemy to none has seen Serbia re-opening its embassy in Harare two years ago.
Zimbabwe closed its embassy in Belgrade in 2006, while Serbia closed its own in Harare in 2013 due budgetary constraints, with both countries bearing the brunt of sanctions.
In 2019, the total value of exports from Serbia to Zimbabwe amounted to 280 000 euros, and imports from Zimbabwe were worth 1 539 000 euros. In 2020, the value of exports from Serbia to Zimbabwe were 141 000 euros, while imports from Zimbabwe were 1 965 000 euros.
Following the reopening of the Serbian Embassy in Harare two years ago, both sides want to build on their historical relations by cementing bilateral relations for the benefit of both nations.
In an exclusive interview, Serbian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Radisa Grujic said his country was open to be the economic bridge between the African countries and the European countries.
“Serbia is really open and ready to be the bridge to African states, especially to Zimbabwe to further cooperation in the European Union and other developed states. At the same time, Serbia signed the Free Trade Agreement with Russia, China, and other countries in the economic bloc of the former Soviet Union.
“It can be a challenge for the African states to export their goods and services to Serbia and other parts of the world,” said Ambassador Grujic.
He said a viable trade initiative can be achieved through companies that can oversee agricultural and other goods being re-exported to some parts of the world.
“This is one of the ideas which can improve our economic cooperation,” Ambassador Grujic said.
Ambassador Grujic said the two countries are working on plans for joint projects in infrastructure, agriculture, information technology and mining.
“Our main focus will be to preserve, to work on preservation of national interests of both countries, and to be focused on the economic issues especially in areas such as agriculture, and then some export and import of goods from both countries. Also, we need to invest a little more in cooperation in the mining and energy sectors.
“I think that in the future we will go much broader and deeper in all fields of cooperation. And we are already supporting Zimbabwe with some kinds of scholarship for students,” he said.
Ambassador Grujic said Serbia was one of the most important economic and trade partners of Zimbabwe.
“One of the areas which we need to cooperate on is security and military cooperation. As you are aware that SADC member countries are faced with some security threat in Mozambique, and other parts of Africa.
“Serbia is one of the most dominant south eastern European countries with peace-keeping participation experience and has a very efficient capacity in training of the peace-keepers.
“The idea is to have military medical cooperation, training doctors specifically in the military and participation in the peace-keeping cooperation in the region and Africa as a whole.
“We can also cooperate in training police officers as we used to do in the past,” said the Ambassador.
Africa, he said, needed to improve its capacity in the fight against terrorism, crime, and against humanitarian catastrophe.
“There are a lot of Serbians living in Zimbabwe for more than 30 years and are Zimbabwean citizens. These can also be very important bridges between the two countries”.
Ambassador Grujic said proposals for companies in Serbia to come to invest in Zimbabwe were being worked on.
“We lost a lot of time during our lack of presence here. This is the beginning of establishing institutional relationship which must be the springboard for business people. My real intention and plan is to establish areas of cooperation,” stressed the Ambassador.
He congratulated President Mnangagwa for assuming the SADC chairmanship.
Online Reporter