ZIMBABWE'S Ambassador to Botswana, Ambassador Batiraishe Henry Mukonoweshuro, has applauded Zimbabwean businesses participating at the ongoing Global Expo Botswana 2025 in Gaborone for taking advantage of the platform to market the country's high value and diverse products and services saying this is critical in boosting exports and growing the economy.
In an interview after concluding a tour of the 20 local firms on Friday afternoon, during which he held one-on-one engagements with company representatives, Amb Mukonoweshuro commended the mix of Zimbabwean companies.
"It's quite impressive, the mix of companies, especially those that are targeted towards agriculture. As you know, they are trying to diversify here in Botswana, and they are trying to see what they can do in agriculture," he said.
"So, I think there's a lot of interest because that's a green field, and also the issue of leather, leather turning.
As you know, there are a lot of cattle in Botswana, and the tanneries are down, and I think it's an opportunity again that has presented itself.
"So, I think it's a good thing for these companies that have come in to continue driving and following up, through Zimbabwe Investment and Trade Promotion Officer at the Embassy, to see what can be secured as we go on," he added.
Amb Mukonoweshuro said the diplomatic relations between the two countries were excellent and conducive for supporting mutually beneficial trade gains
"The new dispensation here has warmed up very well to our President and the leadership of the government. In his own submissions, he (President Duma Boko) has said that he admires and wants Zimbabweans to do more, to do more skills training, to impart more," said the Ambassador.
"So, I think opportunities are there, because as you know, diamond is now going down, the demand is not there because of synthetics, and the country is trying to diversify.
"So, in this diversification, I think there's a lot of opportunity for our people, because you know we are very well anchored in the agricultural sector, in farming, in irrigation and in horticulture," he added.
"So, those are the areas that I think we can actually capitalise and train the Botswana people, and capitalise on the cordial relations that are existing between our two countries."