Online Reporter
Nyore Madzianike-Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE and Russia are seeking to deepen economic cooperation targeting increased investment and expanded collaboration in key sectors such as mining and agriculture.
Russian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Sergei Berdnikov, said this after paying a courtesy call on Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Mudenda at New Parliament Building in Mt Hampden yesterday.
He said while political relations between the two countries remained strong and were built on a long history of friendship, there was need to strengthen economic and financial ties.
“We had very fruitful and exhaustive talks, and that was my first visit to the Speaker, and quite naturally we had a chance to assess the present state of our political cooperation and economic cooperation as well,” he said.
“As previously mentioned, the political climate and political exchange between the Russian Federation and the Republic of Zimbabwe is very fruitful and has a very long history of friendship and cordial relations.
“What is lacking is our economic, investment and financial cooperation, and we are looking forward to having it extended as much as possible.”
Mr Berdnikov said preparations were underway for the Zimbabwe-Russia Intergovernmental Commission, which is expected to be held in Victoria Falls towards the end of August or early October.
He said the meeting would be accompanied by a business forum aimed at promoting trade, investment and stronger commercial partnerships between the two nations.
“We are looking forward to having our intergovernmental commission take place in Victoria Falls at the end of August or beginning of October. We are still deciding on the exact dates, and there will be a business forum alongside this intergovernmental commission,” he said.
“We are looking forward to promoting our cooperation, exchanging views and finding possible ways to improve our cooperation in economics.”
Mr Berdnikov said discussions with Adv Mudenda also focused on the forthcoming Russia-Africa Summit scheduled for October 28 and 29, which President Mnangagwa is expected to attend.
He said the summit would provide an opportunity for bilateral talks between President Mnangagwa and Russian President Vladimir Putin, with economic cooperation expected to feature prominently on the agenda.
“President Mnangagwa has already responded and he will attend this summit and hopefully will have bilateral talks with President Putin,” he said.
“That will also provide the possibility to exchange views not only on political issues but also to talk about economic cooperation.”
Mr Berdnikov identified agriculture, energy, mining, computer science and cyber security as priority areas for enhanced cooperation.
He said Russia would also continue offering annual scholarships to Zimbabwean students to study in various fields at Russian institutions of higher learning.
“The first things coming to our mind are agriculture first of all, then energy sources, energy security, computer sciences, cyber security, and of course mining, which is also one of the areas of our forthcoming and current cooperation,” he said.
