Online Reporter
Zvamaida Murwira in Tehran, Iran
ZIMBABWE has benefited immensely from its engagement with various players in the Iranian economy and the agreements it entered into will go a long way in bolstering the Government’s modernisation and industrialisation agenda, Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga has said.
Dr Chiwenga was in Iran where he was leading a Zimbabwean delegation participating in the Iran Africa Economic conference aimed at deepening cooperation between the Asian country and Africa.
During his engagement, a local renowned pharmaceutical company pledged to establish a plant in Zimbabwe to supply drugs, while a tractor assembling company committed to supply tractors to Harare.
Yesterday, the Vice President met another company that committed to providing dialysis machines in Zimbabwe’s hospitals, something that will bring relief to renal patients.
VP Chiwenga also met 20 businessmen yesterday who are keen to explore areas of cooperation for the mutual benefit of the two countries.
The businessmen, who are Members of Legislative Assembly, and were accompanied by Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister, Raj Modi said they are keen to cooperate with Zimbabwe in many sectors.
In an interview yesterday to mark the end of his visit, VP Chiwenga said he was excited with the results of his engagement which he said will mark a huge milestone in the Zimbabwe Iran bilateral relations.
He said the projects dovetailed with President Mnangagwa’s innovation thrust given that both Zimbabwe and Iran’s economies had shown resilience in the wake of the yoke of sanctions imposed by the United States of America and other Western countries.
VP Chiwenga said what remained was to ensure full implementation of about 13 Memorandum of Understanding signed in Harare in 2023 in an event that was superintended by President Mnangagwa and his then Iranian counterpart, the late President Ebrahim Raisi.
“Since our arrival we have been engaged with the top leadership of this country, parastatals and companies that want to do business with Zimbabwe and we have benefited a lot,” said VP Chiwenga.
Briefing journalists, Iranian Consortium of Dialysis Group export manager, Ms Atena Arabi said her company will provide dialysis machines to be distributed in hospitals.
