Zimbabwe is intensifying its drive to strengthen trade and investment links with India as the country gears up to participate in the 20th India-Africa Business Conclave in New Delhi this Wednesday. Vice President General (Retired) Dr Constantino Chiwenga, leading the delegation, concluded a two-day tour in Gujarat under the Chalo-Zimbabwe business initiative, where he engaged top diamond cutting and polishing firms, as well as the Agricultural Produce Market Committee (APMC) and Sumul Dairy. The visit underscored Zimbabwe’s determination to move beyond raw exports toward local beneficiation and smallholder-based agro-processing, signalling a shift from dialogue to actionable economic transformation.
Speaking on the visit, Vice President Chiwenga noted that India’s diamond beneficiation industry, which handles nine out of every ten diamonds worldwide, presents an opportunity for Zimbabwe to establish its own cutting and polishing houses, enabling the country to capture greater value domestically. He also highlighted India’s dairy model, where even small farmers contribute effectively to large-scale collection and processing, suggesting that a similar approach could be replicated in Zimbabwean villages to generate value-added products from local agricultural resources.
Accompanying Vice President Chiwenga to New Delhi are Minister of Skills Audit and Development Professor Paul Mavima, Deputy Minister of Health and Child Care Honourable Sleiman Kwidini, Deputy Minister of Higher and Tertiary, Science and Technology Development Honourable Simelisizwe Sibanda, and other senior officials. The delegation is focused on achieving tangible outcomes at the Conclave, emphasising small to medium-scale initiatives in sectors such as cotton processing, diamond beneficiation, and agriculture.
“The objective is practical results,” Vice President Chiwenga stressed. “Even two or three key projects can make a real difference. We are prioritising village-level businesses that grow from the ground up, fostering sustainable partnerships with India that transfer expertise and develop our human capital.”
The three-day India-Africa Business Conclave, hosted by the Confederation of Indian Industry, will feature discussions on agriculture and food processing, healthcare and pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, energy and mining, as well as digital partnerships and skills development. Zimbabwe’s delegation aims to secure agreements that could redefine its trade footprint in India, spanning sectors from dairy and diamonds to education and energy, setting the stage for measurable economic growth and enhanced bilateral cooperation.
