By George Swarei
Harare, 9 May 2025 – The European Union (EU) has reaffirmed its long-standing partnership with Zimbabwe, marking this year’s Europe Day celebrations with a strong emphasis on trade, investment, and sustainable development.
Under the banner “Global Gateway: Powered by the Private Sector,” the EU used the occasion to announce the first-ever EU–Zimbabwe Business Forum, scheduled for 20–22 May in Harare.
Speaking at the Europe Day reception in the capital, EU Ambassador Jobst von Kirchmann described the EU–Zimbabwe partnership as “a shared future powered by a thriving EU and Zimbabwe private sector.”
The ambassador highlighted the rapid expansion in bilateral trade—up more than 30% since 2021—and a remarkable 90% increase in EU investment into Zimbabwe over the past three years.
The forthcoming business forum will bring together European and Zimbabwean businesses, public institutions, and investors. It will serve as a platform to unlock investment opportunities and deepen economic cooperation.
The initiative is part of the EU’s broader Global Gateway Strategy, which promotes sustainable infrastructure and inclusive development through public and private investment.
The EU–Zimbabwe relationship is anchored in shared values of democracy, human rights, and the rule of law, with cooperation dating back to 1981. Despite evolving global and regional challenges, the EU has maintained its support for Zimbabwe’s development ambitions, aligning with the country’s Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1.
Zimbabwe benefits from duty-free and quota-free access to the EU’s single market under the Economic Partnership Agreement.
The EU is the largest buyer of Zimbabwe’s horticultural products, purchasing over 40% of the country’s exports in this sector. Key exports to Europe include fruits, vegetables, tobacco, metals, and precious minerals, while Zimbabwe imports machinery, pharmaceuticals, vehicles, and chemicals from the EU.
Recent European Investment Bank (EIB) credit lines to Zimbabwean commercial banks—totalling over USD 100 million—have provided SMEs with affordable, long-term financing, catalysing growth in horticulture and renewable energy. These investments are backed by EU guarantees and aim to strengthen economic resilience and job creation.
Team Europe’s current development portfolio in Zimbabwe stands at nearly USD 600 million, covering priority areas such as gender equality, climate-smart agriculture, food security, and youth empowerment. In the humanitarian sphere, the EU has allocated over USD 50 million since 2020 to support emergency responses, disaster preparedness, and urban nutrition.
As Europe Day commemorates the historic Schuman Declaration of 1950 and the EU’s founding vision of unity, the celebrations in Harare also reflected a cultural dimension. The popular “European Village” returned, showcasing the continent’s diversity, while a festival at the National Gallery on 10 May will feature joint artistic expressions by Zimbabwean and European creatives.
With a clear roadmap for economic engagement, the EU’s renewed commitment to Zimbabwe underscores a partnership built not just on aid, but on trade, investment, and shared prosperity. The EU has set its sights on reaching USD 1 billion in trade and investment with Zimbabwe in the near future—an ambition that signals deepening ties and mutual confidence.
