THE European Union, whose relations with Zimbabwe are continually warming, has said it is committed to supporting the country and will work with Government and other stakeholders to ensure the realisation of Vision 2030.
Speaking at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair here yesterday, EU Ambassador to Zimbabwe Jobst von Kirchmann said efforts would be made to ensure increased trade and investment with the 27 member bloc.
The EU is exhibiting at ZITF for the first time, which is testament that President Mnangagwa’s engagement and re-engagement drive is bearing fruit.
“This year is the first year when we have a stand and it is not a small one. We are team Europe so it should be a big stand and some of the members states including Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Italy are exhibiting with us in that stand,” he said.
“We also have a big stand because trade and investment in Zimbabwe really matters to us, we have annual trade volume with Zimbabwe of about US$700 million and we are the number one export destination for horticulture with 42 percent of all horticulture products in Zimbabwe go to the European market.”
Ambassador von Kirchmann said the European bloc’s perception of Zimbabwe was still tainted, but he would assist in building the country’s image within the bloc.
He commended Government’s efforts in initiating the arrears clearance and debt resolution processes, saying it was a step in the right direction and would surely unlock Zimbabwe’s potential.
“There is a negative perception about Zimbabwe and I think it is important to work on it because at the end of the day the Zimbabwean Government and us can work together and facilitate and promote investment as well as trade,” he said.“We stand ready to work together with Government of Zimbabwe to make that a reality. We should work together to change the perception of Zimbabwe because Zimbabwe is a fantastic country and it merits to have a positive narrative.”
Ambassador von Kirchmann said there was room to extensively increase in trade between Zimbabwe and Belgium, driven by the Second Republic’s ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ mantra.
The EU’s export market, said Ambassador von Kirchmann, was ready for more Zimbabwean exports.
“There is room for much more investments and I think that is also what Zimbabwe wants because I hear you are open for business, you want to build an export-led economy and I have read the NDS1 and there is a lot in it,” he said.
“As the European Union we would like Zimbabwe to succeed and we would like to work together.”
The European Investment Bank, he said, had partnered with CABS, First Capital and NMB banks to get direct financing for the private sector.
“It has low interest rates about 8 percent, it’s a long tenure seven years so I believe this is something we should do much more,” he said. – The Herald
