Zim, UAE to deepen trade ties
MONA-LISA DUBE IN DUBAI
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said Zimbabwe is ready to deepen trade ties with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) following the establishment of full diplomatic ties.
He spoke at the on-going Dubai Expo, where he was welcomed by the UAE Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
Mnangagwa also headlined the Zimbabwe National Day celebrations at the expo earlier this week.
“The increase in bilateral trade volumes between our two countries (Zimbabwe and UAE) is a show of the growing confidence your country (UAE) has in Zimbabwe’s economy and social development thrust,” Mnangagwa said.
He added: “Be assured that my administration stands ready to deepen and cement our trade ties taking advantage of the diplomatic missions recently established in our two capitals.
“This development will undoubtedly ensure a more efficient channel of consultation on matters of common interest.”
The United Arab Emirates is Zimbabwe’s second largest trading partner after South Africa, accounting for about US$1.6bn in exports President Mnangagwa also met some Zimbabweans based in Dubai on the sidelines of the ceremony.
He said Zimbabweans in Dubai should take the leading role in investing in Zimbabwe.
“I encourage you to strengthen your groups and associations within your various localities for a more co-ordinated approach to participate in socio-economic development programmes and projects back
home,” Mnangagwa said.
“Leverage on your networks and ability to relate to different identities and as a springboard to tap into the advantages that exist in our agriculture mining, infrastructure development tourism among others.”
Zimbabweans living in the UAE requested for land. In response Lands, Agriculture, Water, Climate and Rural Resettlement minister Anxious Masuka said the government was currently focusing on setting out criteria for redistributing the land.
“The first thing is we are looking at multiple land ownership and we are taking and leaving one family with one farm.
The second aspect is we are looking at abandoned land.
“We have over 250 000 Zimbabweans on the waiting list. The demand for land is unprecedented but if you do not apply together with these other 250 000 thousand, you will most likely not get the land,”
Masuka said.
Masuka also said Zimbabweans based in the Diaspora should consider partnering with those back home that already have land.
