Ireland keen to deepen relations with Zimbabwe

IRELAND is deeply committed to increasing bilateral trade and investment with Zimbabwe on the back of existing cordial relations, Irish Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Austin Gormley, has said.

He said this yesterday after paying a courtesy call on Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Professor Amon Murwira, where he expressed Dublin’s commitment to increased bilateral co-operation with Harare in various sectors.

“Well, it was a real pleasure and honour to meet the Minister again,” Ambassador Gormley said.

“I met him in July last year when I presented credentials to President Mnangagwa.

“We discussed the bilateral relationship between Ireland and Zimbabwe, which remains cordial and good”.

The EU Delegation to Zimbabwe, in partnership with EU member States, is organising the first European Union-Zimbabwe Business Forum to be held in Harare in May.

Such fora, said Ambassador Gormley, pave the way for increased co-operation between the two countries.

On its part, Ireland will host an Africa trade forum in June, and Zimbabwe has been invited.

“We also talked about the importance of the economic links and deepening those economic exchanges.

“I think Zimbabwe is hosting with the European Union a trade forum in May, and Ireland will participate in that trade forum with a view to identifying sectors where we see potential for investment in Zimbabwe and to grow our business links.

“Likewise, Ireland has an Africa trade forum in June in Dublin, and I invited the Minister to send his officials and businesses to Ireland to look at how they can explore opportunities for trade and investment with Ireland also.

“So, trade and investment features strongly,” he said.

The Irish Ambassador said Ireland was also committed to Zimbabwe’s health sector and to rural resilience.

“. . . and we are working with the UNDP and other UN agencies in supporting programmes which address poverty, malnutrition and vulnerability to climate change.

“So we are working with the Zimbabwean Government, of course, on those issues and trying to make progress over time,” he said.

Harare and Dublin, said Ambassador Gormley, enjoyed a special bond built on shared values.

“The relationship is based on shared values in the sense of Irish missionaries having worked here for many decades in Zimbabwe, working with the most vulnerable in education and health.

“It is reflected also in our values and commitment to the United Nations. We talked about that, our commitment to multilateralism and a peaceful resolution of international disputes, including Russia, Ukraine,” he said.-herald