INDIA has hailed its relations with Zimbabwe and says it will continue working with, as well as supporting, the country’s development agenda.
This came as the New Delhi administration donated US$1 million and 500 tonnes of rice to Harare for drought relief.
The donation was handed over by India’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Masakui Rungsung, to Chief Secretary to the President and Cabinet Dr Misheck Sibanda who received the donation on behalf of Zimbabwe.
In his remarks after handing over the donation, Ambassador Rungsung said: “In response to the appeal made by the Government of the Republic of Zimbabwe for assistance in the wake of the national drought declared on February 4 2016 by His Excellency President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, Government of India, in recognition of the strong bilateral ties between the two countries, in the first phase of assistance, extended a grant of US$1 million to the Government of Zimbabwe.”
Zimbabwe and India have a relationship that has grown beyond cultural and social links as the two nations are now close business and trade partners.
Bilateral trade between the two countries grew by more than 200 percent to US$132,37 million in the period 2014/15.
Of the total bilateral trading amount for the 2014/15 period, Indian exports were US$131,68 million while exports from Zimbabwe were about US$690 000.
Dr Sibanda said Zimbabwe was not only happy with the excellent relations with India in the context of South-South co-operation, but also with regards to Zimbabwe’s Look East Policy.
He highlighted the high profile visit by President Robert Mugabe to India in October last year during the Third India-Africa Summit as another indicator to the close ties between the two countries.
“What was most important for us during that (India-Africa) summit is that the only bilateral agreement signed during the summit was the US$89 million line of credit for the refurbishment of Hwange Thermal Power Station,” said Dr Sibanda.
“The agreement was signed between our two countries.
“The signing of that agreement was indeed testimony to the special bilateral relations that we enjoy.”
Dr Sibanda said Zimbabwe was happy with the sound relationship between Harare and New Delhi in other critical sectors of the economy such as the Small-to-Medium Enterprise sector, information communication technology, energy, education and pharmaceuticals.
“Equally vibrant is the economic co-operation which is underpinned by the extension of several lines of credit which include the US$25 million for the refurbishment of Parirenyatwa Group of Hospitals, the US$28,6 million for the upgrading of the Deka Pumping Station and US$119 million for the development of Gairezi Power Station in the Eastern Highlands which is at the tendering stage,” he said.
Indian public sector companies like Indian Railway Construction Company (IRCON), Rail India Technical and Economic Services (RITES), Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) and Telecommunications India Ltd (TCIL) have a successful history of engagement with Zimbabwe.
Kirloskar and Jain Irrigation have supplied pumps and irrigation equipment to Zimbabwe.
Some Indian companies are looking for investments in mining coal, granite, gold and diamonds.
India also has a strong presence in the pharmaceutical sector in Zimbabwe and Indian medicines are readily available on the local market.
Ranbaxy and lpca Labs Ltd have also established business relations with the Zimbabwean health sector.
Dr Sibanda thanked India for its quick response to an international appeal made by Zimbabwe on food relief following the El Nino-induced drought that affected most parts of the country.
“It will be recalled that in February this year, Zimbabwe launched a global appeal for drought-relief assistance following the effects of the El Nino-induced drought which resulted in massive crop failure in the country,” he said.
“The Government and people of Zimbabwe are humbled by the speed with which the Government of India responded to the appeal.
“Allow me, on behalf of the Government and people of Zimbabwe, to thank the Government and people of India for their generosity in donating US$1 million towards drought-relief efforts in Zimbabwe.
“Indeed, the 2015/16 cropping season witnessed massive crop failure to the extent that the country needs to import 1,8 million tonnes of grain to see the nation to the next harvest in 2017.”