Mukudzei Chingwere
Senior Reporter
ZIMBABWE and Pakistan are exploring opportunities to expand trade and investment in pharmaceuticals, textiles and information technology, as the two countries seek to translate their longstanding relations into stronger economic cooperation.
Speaking to journalists after paying a courtesy call on Vice President Dr Constantino Chiwenga today, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Muhammad Qazi said bilateral trade remains below its potential, hence the need to establish closer links between businesses.
The discussions reviewed cooperation in defence, education and other sectors, while identifying opportunities to broaden commercial relations.
“We had a very constructive and fruitful discussion in many areas of bilateral cooperation,” said Ambassador Qazi.
“We expressed satisfaction in many important things like our cooperation in the education sector and other areas. However, it is well below the true potential that exists between the two countries,” he said.
“We also discussed what opportunities lie ahead between the two countries in the fields of trade, commerce, investment, pharmaceuticals, textiles, information technology and other areas.”
The engagement places business cooperation at the centre of efforts to deepen relations, with the Ambassador identifying direct contact between enterprises as an important step towards increasing trade.
Ambassador Qazi said he had begun engaging relevant stakeholders in Zimbabwe and is working towards connecting them with organisations and business counterparts in Pakistan.
“The idea is to create linkages and build bridges between the business communities of the two countries so that they can take new initiatives and identify new areas of cooperation,” he said.
“I think it’s only a matter of time and once this is established, bilateral trade will go up.”
His remarks point to a practical approach to economic diplomacy, in which government-level engagements help businesses identify partners and explore commercial opportunities.
Ambassador Qazi said Zimbabwe occupies an important place in Pakistan’s broader engagement with Africa.
“Pakistan realises that there is a lot of potential in Africa, in building linkages between Pakistan and Africa in so many fields, and also in establishing people-to-people contacts,” he said.
“Bilateral ties between Pakistan and Zimbabwe are a very important component of our African policy, and I hope it will increase our overall ties with Africa.”
