Zimbabwe and India have registered an upward trend in investment and commerce, creating ample opportunities for growth in various sectors with Indian investments estimated at US$600 million, Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe Bramha Kumar has said.
Kumar told NewsDay that India was key player in Zimbabwe's economy with investments that includes beverages, pharmaceuticals, and agro-processing.
Prominent Indian companies include Varun Beverages which has made substantial commitments in expansion, signalling potential for further collaboration and economic development between the two countries.
“The Indian investments in Zimbabwe are estimated at US$ 600 million,” Kumar said.
“Indian companies have made investments mainly in the beverages, pharmaceuticals and agro-processing industries.
“It is estimated that the total Indian investments are in the vicinity of US$500 million.
“Key Indian companies who have invested in Zimbabwe include Varun Beverages Zimbabwe Ltd, a Joint Venture of Varun Beverages India.”
From the period April to November 2024, exports to Zimbabwe from India amounted to US$89 million, while imports from India stood at US$5 million.
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Kumar said Zimbabwe and India also share strong cultural relations as a 20-member group consisting of cultural troupe and artisans from Zimbabwe participated in the 38th edition of Surajkund International Crafts Mela 2025 early this year.
Turning to aid and assistance, Kumar said India has supported Zimbabwe with aid worth millions of dollars including medication and vaccines during the peak of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2021.
“In pursuance of the announcements made during the visit of Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu to Zimbabwe in November 2018, India gifted emergency medicines worth US$ 2.2 million in 2019-2020 as also 1 000 metric tonnes of rice,” the ambassador said.
“Further a consignment of 75,000 doses of Covid-19 vaccine, COVAXIN, and a consignment of 10 state of the art ambulances were gifted in 2021.
“India again extended a grant of US$1 million to Zimbabwe in June 2017 in response to the 2016-17 flood disaster international appeal made by the government of Zimbabwe.”
The Indian envoy added that they are looking forward to continuing hosting Zimbabweans in various capacity building initiatives as they have entered into memoranda with a number of higher and tertiary institutions including the Harare Institute of Technology.
“Capacity building is an important pillar of our development partnership with Zimbabwe with training extending across several areas both in civilian and defence domains,” Kumar said.
“ India also stands with Zimbabwe in providing modern technical training and skilling to her youths.
“It is estimated that around 5,000 students are already enrolled in various Indian colleges and universities.
“Study in India fairs as also Indian higher education and career fairs have been conducted regularly.”
Zimbabwe-India relations date back to 1890 when Indian plantation workers in apartheid South Africa crossed to Zimbabwe, then called Southern Rhodesia, for better working conditionsandbusiness opportunities.
This was followed by the then Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi attending the 1980 Zimbabwe independence celebrations.
Since then, the two countries have engaged in exchanges and State visits, strengthening bilateral relations.
