eBusiness Weekly
HARARE – A delegation from the Belgian private sector will visit Zimbabwe early next year to explore business opportunities in various sectors of the economy, new Belgian ambassador to Harare Didier Vanderhasselt said on Thursday.
He was speaking to the media after presenting his credentials to President Emmerson Mnangagwa at State House.
“I had the pleasure to announce to the President that the Chamber of Commerce of Belgium, Luxembourg, ACP in Brussels is considering a trade mission to come to Zimbabwe in the month of January to assess the situation and to see what kind of economic cooperation is possible,” he said.
“It will consist of 20 to 25 Belgian companies out of nine different sectors.”
Vanderhasselt said he believed now was the right moment to re-engage with Zimbabwe both on the economic and political front.
“I think we are at a very special moment. I think we are really ready to re-engage on the basis of meetings the President had with our Prime Minister in New York and our foreign minister had with Lt Gen Moyo in Brussels a few months ago,” he said.
“In the political field it is clear that Belgium will have a non-permanent seat in the (UN) Security Council from the 1st of January for two years, so I think it is very important that we will keep channels open with Zimbabwe to discuss regional issues and matters of international security. “On the economic side, a very important matter for our private companies is that there is financial and economic stability.”
While in New York last month, President Mnangagwa met Belgian Prime Minister Charles Michel and discussed several issues of mutual interest including agriculture and mining, particularly the diamond sub-sector.
Meanwhile, President Mnangagwa also received new Malian Ambassador Mahamane Audou Cisse. He said Mali was keen on tapping from the experience Zimbabwe had in mining and agriculture. – New Ziana
