Press Information Bureau

Government of India

Ministry of Commerce & Industry

24-February-2011 19:25 IST

India-Zimbabwe to Cooperate in Science & Technology, Agro and Renewable Energy – JCM to be Held This Year

Zimbabwe Minister Meets Anand Sharma

 

In a bilateral meeting between Shri Anand Sharma, Union Minister of Commerce & Industry and Mr. Tendai Biti, Finance Minister of Zimbabwe, here today, both sides noted the possibilities in science and technology cooperation, particularly in appropriate technologies in agriculture, agro-processing and renewable energy. Shri Sharma noted India’s continued interest in education and capacity building programmes in Africa and in Zimbabwe in particular, through the “India-Zimbabwe SME Project” and by sponsoring Zimbabweans for study programmes under the ITEC and other courses. Shri Sharma conveyed India’s interest in cooperation with Zimbabwe in mining, power generation, railways, ICT and agricultural sector in Zimbabwe.

In his interaction with the visiting Minister, Shri Sharma informed that in the final phase of the Indo-Zimbabwe Small & Medium Enterprises Project, experts from India visiting Zimbabwe over a two year period to train Zimbabweans in operation and maintenance of the machines and technologies gifted to Zimbabwe.

Shri Sharma, during the meeting, stated that the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) between the two countries has not met since 1996 and expressed the hope that with the interest displayed by both sides, it would be possible to hold the next Meeting of the Joint Commission this year. He further noted that India’s long-standing engagement with Africa, including the India-Africa Summit in April 2008 and the forthcoming India-Africa Forum Summit in May 2011.

India’s exports to Zimbabwe during 2009-10 were US $ 49 million and imports from Zimbabwe to India were US $ 21 million. Major items exported by India to Zimbabwe are drugs, pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals; machinery & instruments; electronic goods; transport equipments, etc. Major items imported by India from Zimbabwe are non-ferrous metals; raw cotton, crude minerals, pearls, precious semi-precious stones, etc.

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DS/MRS

International cooperation in science and technology advances bilateral projects and plans to reconvene the Joint Commission Meeting this year. India and Zimbabwe committed to deepen cooperation in science and technology, agriculture (including agro-processing), and renewable energy, with India providing educational sponsorships and SME Project support including on site training by Indian experts. The countries intend to reconvene the Joint Commission Meeting (JCM) this year to coordinate bilateral initiatives, and noted existing trade patterns where major Indian exports to Zimbabwe include pharmaceuticals, machinery and electronics, while Zimbabwean exports to India include non ferrous metals, raw cotton and minerals.