The United Nations has declared next year to be the Year of Millets, and an Indian Millet Park in Zimbabwe, Africa, has been proposed as part of this initiative. President Murmu greeted the delegation, stating that India and Zimbabwe have had diplomatic relations for centuries.
President Murmu also highlighted the presence of approximately 9000 people of Indian origin, which she described as an important link between the two countries’ peoples. This was announced by President of India Droupadi Murmu during a meeting at Rashtrapati Bhavan with Zimbabwe Speaker of Parliament Advocate Jacob Francis
Nzwidamilimo Mudenda and four members of Parliament.
The Indian Economic Trade Organization (IETO) hosted the India-Zimbabwe Meeting in New Delhi in collaboration with the Zimbabwe India Trade Council. IETO also pledged support for a strong partnership between the two countries during the meeting, which was attended by many entrepreneurs from across the country.
IETO President Dr. Asif Iqbal welcomed Zimbabwean Parliament Speaker Advocate Jacob Francis Nzwidamilimo. Mudenda was accompanied by four members of Parliament (MP). During her meeting with Zimbabwe’s Speaker, President Murmu stated that the ITEC and ICCR scholarships from India are popular among Zimbabweans.
Furthermore, he stated that more efforts should be made to strengthen the two countries’ bilateral cooperation.
According to Dr. Iqbal, “There is a lot of interest in India for Zimbabwe, a country with a lot of potential for bilateral trade in Minerals, Industrial Development, Pharma, Agriculture, and Mines. An Indian delegation from the IETO recently visited Harare and Bulawayo in preparation for the Zimbabwe-India summit in 2022, which drew many companies from around the world.”
Bilateral trade is worth about $200 million USD. Several Indian companies have invested nearly $500 million there, and India has established a vocational training centre as
well as five lines of credit with Zimbabwe.
“Because the two countries have long-standing historical ties, India has every opportunity to become Zimbabwe’s major trading partner. Next year, we want to make Indian
exports the primary focus of the ties and increase export revenue, particularly for millets “Dr. Iqbal stated.
According to him, interest in the African country is growing, and Zimbabwe Ambassador Dr. Godfrey Majoni Chipare has expressed his full support for business collaborations between the two countries.
He talked about how Indians are aware of Zimbabwe and want to visit the beautiful country, especially Victoria Falls, the world’s seventh wonder. Several Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) were signed in various sectors during the IETO delegation’s visit to Harare and Bulawayo, including solar energy, tourism and hospitality, agroforestry, and pharmaceutical products.
“Zimbabwean lithium has a large market in India, and there is potential for deeper bilateral trade in sectors such as gold, minerals, skill development, and affordable housing,” Dr Iqbal added. In the last year, India’s High Commissioner in Namibia, Vijay Khanduja, met with various business delegations and offered full support and assistance to Indian businessmen.
The Indian Mission also organised B2B meetings, which resulted in many collaborations between Indian and Zimbabwean companies. There are plans to open three more Zimbabwean trade desks in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Gujarat next year. Businesses will be able to move more quickly through these trade desks, strengthening relationships between people in both countries.
