adminZimbabwe has adopted a Look East Policy to overcome the effects of economic
sanctions that some Western countries imposed.
Industry and Commerce Deputy Minister Mike Bimha said opportunities for co-operation between Zimbabwe and Mauritius were great and the two countries wanted to fully exploit these for mutual benefit.
“A host of varying opportunities exist between the two countries in textile, agro-processing and minerals amongst others,” he said.
Last year Zimbabwe and Mauritius traded goods worth about US$4 million while in 2009 goods worth around US$40 million went through Mauritius to the overseas market.
Deputy Minister Bimha said the existing trade volume could be surpassed.
“Industry and Commerce Ministers from the two countries will chair the council and they would meet annually to boost trade,” he said.
Mauritius Industry, Commerce and Consumer Protection Minister Cadex Sayed-Hossen who was in the country last week for the Sanganai/Hlanganani Tourism Expo said the two countries had a common destiny to prosper.
“We want to strengthen bilateral relations between the two countries and I believe the next decade is for Africa,” he said.
Minister Sayed-Hossen said Zimbabwe had vast natural resources, which Mauritius wanted.
“Our countries should seize every possible business opportunity to enrich our people,” he said.
The minister said the council would also work on introducing direct flight between the two countries.
“The introduction of a direct flight will see business increasing between the two countries because currently it’s taking about 13 hours to fly to Mauritius instead of four,” he said.
He said that in the first quarter of next year a Zimbabwean delegation would make a return visit to the island.
Mauritius is one of the fastest growing economies in Africa after it migrated from agro-based to a more industrialised state. – New Ziana.
Online Reporter