Online Reporter
Mukudzei Chingwere in Surat, Gujarat State, India
VICE-PRESIDENT Dr Constantino Chiwenga is today expected to arrive here and lead Zimbabwe’s participation at this year’s Africa Conclave on India-Africa Partnership, organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII).
The CII Conclave is India’s premier investment scouting indaba for the African continent and comes as the world’s fourth largest economy is seeking to consolidate on its investment on the African continent which is now well over $100 billion in the last 30 years.
The Vice President will have a packed schedule which will also see him attend a Zimbabwe country specific indaba — Chalo Zimbabwe which means Let’s Go to Zimbabwe — organised by private businesses in the State of Gujarat.
The visit is part of a grand strategy by the two countries to leverage their bilateral relations into mutually beneficial economic co-operation for its peoples.
It also comes at a time when President Mnangagwa is championing rapid economic growth towards an empowered upper-middle-income economy.
Ambassador Stella Nkomo, Zimbabwe’s representative in India, confirmed the details of the Vice President’s itinerary, stressing the import of this visit in the context of Zimbabwe’s economic growth strategy.
“We are here in Gujarat where we are expecting the Vice-President to come to India on Friday (today) and we are excited to welcome him and his delegation as he is set to advance the country’s economic diplomacy agenda,” said Ambassador Nkomo.
“The Vice-President is expected to lead a delegation from Zimbabwe that will participate at the Gujarat Chamber of Commerce conference on Saturday that is being held specifically for Zimbabwe and next week he will also lead the Zimbabwean delegation at this year’s Conclave.
“He will have a very busy schedule, we want to capitalise on his visit and come up with tangible results, aside from the conferences we have organised industrial visits and meetings with key economic players both here in Gujarat and New Delhi.
“So, he will start his working visit here in Gujarat State, then after the Chalo Zimbabwe he will go to New Delhi for the Conclave, but both here and New Delhi there are several engagements lined up for him and his delegation.
“This visit by VP Chiwenga is pivotal in our quest to attract investment into Zimbabwe from India,” said Ambassador Nkomo.
The CII conference serves as a strategic platform at a time when India seeks to expand its economic footprint in Africa, recognising the continent’s potential for growth, and Zimbabwe has also identified India as a key player in its economic growth strategy.
Zimbabwe has already seen substantial interest from Indian investors, particularly in the pharmaceutical, agriculture, tourism and mining sectors, yet there remains considerable potential to diversify investments across various industries.
“We anticipate robust participation from African countries at the Conclave, with our delegation led by Vice-President Chiwenga and supported by several ministers and business leaders,” said Ambassador Nkomo.
“Here in Gujarat the conference is Zimbabwe-specific and we expect that our businesses will come up with synergies that can help grow the Zimbabwean economy.
“These meetings are crucial for our business community, showcasing the myriad investment opportunities available in Zimbabwe,” said Ambassador Nkomo.
There is significant interest from Indian business leaders eager to discuss investment prospects in Zimbabwe.
This visit could catalyse future partnerships in vital sectors such as digital transformation, green technologies, healthcare, food security, and water management.
With Zimbabwe currently undergoing an extensive infrastructural development phase, the incorporation of Indian investments could significantly accelerate progress towards the country’s economic aspirations.
