Zimbabwe, an African country, was known as Southern Rhodesia when it was a British colony. Ian Smith, the leader of the white minority, declared its independence from Britain in 1965.

Zimbabwe has the second largest unofficial economy share, which is 60.6%. Agriculture and mining contribute significantly to exports.

Zimbabwe's economy grew at a rate of 12% from 2009 to 2013, making it one of the fastest growing economies in the world. It recovered from negative growth from 1998 to 2008, before slowing to a growth rate of 0.7% in 2016.

20/07/2022

Relations between Egypt and its African sister nations have evolved substantially during President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's era to achieve alignment in visions and coordination in common stances in various forums.

During the reign of the former president, Robert Mugabe, Egyptian-Zimbabwean relations were strong and stable, deriving their strength from Egypt's support of the Zimbabwean liberation movement in the 1980s.

Since the 1960s, Egypt supported Zimbabwe's liberation movement from racist rule and established diplomatic relations with Zimbabwe following its independence on April 18, 1980.

The year 2009 marked a strong start for relations between the two sides, as the Zimbabwean side made numerous visits to Egypt, notably attending the 15th Non-Aligned Summit in Sharm El Sheikh on July 15-16, and the 4th Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Forum on November 8-9.

Egypt has played a historical role in supporting African liberation movements and assisting its African brothers in gaining their independence. Egypt has also been a leading player in Africa by preparing and training African personnel in various fields and promoting bilateral trade in line with the depth and distinction of historical and political relations between the two countries, especially during the era of leader Gamal Abdel Nasser.

These unique historical relations that bind the two countries reflect Egypt's keenness to enhance and develop them in all fields. This falls in line with Egypt's policy of openness to Africa in various political, economic, social, and cultural fields.

Discussions about ways to develop cooperation between Egypt and Zimbabwe in various sectors, such as construction, agriculture, mining, tourism, etc., are ongoing, and there is anticipation for high-level exchange visits between parliamentary officials of the two countries in the upcoming period.

Egypt appreciates the important role played by Zimbabwe in the African continent and the southern African region, and the Egyptian state looks forward to building on its historical relations with Zimbabwe, consolidating them, and expanding their scope in the future.

During President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi's meeting in Sharm El Sheikh with President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the President of the Republic of Zimbabwe, President El-Sisi affirmed the importance Egypt attaches to enhancing the relations that bind it with its sister, Zimbabwe, in various fields.

This is achieved through trade exchanges and investment, either bilaterally or within the framework of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA), in addition to technical cooperation, capacity building, and infrastructure support.

There is a keenness to maximize coordination and consultation with President Mnangagwa regarding ways to boost the momentum of joint African work, which contributes to achieving the growth and stability desired by African countries.