Online Reporter
Obey Musiwa-Herald Reporter
INDIA has reaffirmed its commitment to deepening cooperation with Zimbabwe in support of the country’s Vision 2030 agenda, with a renewed focus on people-centred development, healthcare, skills transfer and sustainable economic growth.
Speaking in Harare on Tuesday, Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Bramha Kumar said the longstanding bilateral relationship between the two countries continues to evolve beyond diplomacy into a strategic partnership that delivers tangible benefits to ordinary citizens.
He said Zimbabwe and India share a common vision of promoting inclusive development through collaboration in key sectors such as health, education, agriculture, trade, technology and capacity building.
Ambassador Kumar hailed the country’s investment in youth empowerment, clean energy, and institutional reforms, which mirror India’s own trajectory.
He said India’s reforms have boosted investor trust and created millions of jobs, offering lessons for Zimbabwe’s own enterprise development.
“India’s ranking in the World Bank’s Doing Business Report improved from 142nd in 2014 to 63rd in 2019,” he said
“Recognised startups have grown from just 502 in 2016 to more than 223,000 by March 2026, generating over 2 million direct jobs.”
He noted that India’s export diversification and free trade agreements open new doors for Zimbabwean producers and traders.
“India remains confident of achieving its ambitious target of US$ 1 trillion in exports during fiscal year 2026-2027,” said Ambassador Kumar.
“Electronics, pharmaceuticals and engineering goods are now key drivers of export growth, reflecting a shift from traditional commodities.”
He described India’s rise as a technology powerhouse, saying that Zimbabwe can benefit from knowledge transfer and digital partnerships.
“Internet connections have expanded from 250 million in 2014 to 1.02 billion in 2026,” said Ambassador Kumar.
“India has achieved one of the world’s fastest 5G rollouts, with services reaching 99,9 percent of districts.”
Ambassador Kumar said the progress in maternal health, child immunisation, and nutrition reflects the country’s commitment to inclusive growth, areas where Zimbabwe is also advancing.
“Institutional deliveries increased from 88,6 percent to 90,6 percent, moving India closer to universal coverage,” he said.
“Stunting among children under five declined substantially from 35,5 percent to 29,3 percent, showing improvement in long‑term nutritional outcomes.”
He highlighted advances in women’s digital inclusion and financial independence.
“Women who had ever used the internet nearly doubled from 33,3 percent to 64,3 percent.”
