daniel chigunwe
Business Reporter
Zimbabwe and China have solidified their strategic partnership, with both nations emphasizing mutual growth and cooperation. This was underscored at the Zimbabwe-China Business Forum held on Wednesday, November 20, 2024.
ZimTrade CEO Allan Majuru highlighted the significant strides made in bilateral trade, particularly in the areas of machinery, equipment, and raw materials.
He noted that Zimbabwe’s exports to China surged from US$973 million in 2019 to US$1,7 billion in 2023.
“We are especially encouraged by recent developments to enhance our trade,” Majuru said. Zimbabwe and China have formalised a protocol for the export of citrus and avocados, and we are confident that this can soon be followed by additional protocols for products such as chillies, sesame seeds, and blueberries.”
Majuru emphasised the potential of Zimbabwe’s agricultural sector, particularly in high-value crops like macadamia nuts, avocados, and citrus fruits.
He called for increased Chinese investment and technology transfer to boost Zimbabwe’s agricultural productivity and sustainability.
Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Zhou Ding, echoed these sentiments, highlighting China’s commitment to supporting Zimbabwe’s economic development.
He noted that China has been a significant contributor to Zimbabwe’s infrastructure development, while also investing in capacity building and skills transfer.
“China has long been using its resources to enhance Zimbabwe’s innovation capacity,” Ding said.
“The National Mobile Broadband Project and the High-Performance Computing Centre have set fine examples in our high-tech cooperation.”
Ding further emphasised the growing trade volume between the two countries, which reached US$3 billion in the first nine months of 2024. He highlighted the increasing exports of Zimbabwean agricultural products to China, which has positively impacted local communities.
Both officials expressed optimism about the future of Zimbabwe-China relations and the potential for further economic cooperation.
The Business Forum provided a platform for Zimbabwean and Chinese businesses to network, explore partnerships, and identify new opportunities.
Bongani Ndlovu