Online Reporter
Wallace Ruzvidzo
Interview
Osaka is gearing up to host the 2025 World Expo from April 13 to October 13 next year under the theme: “Designing Future Society for Our Lives.” This major event, which is expected to attract more than 28 million visitors is an excellent platform to exchange ideas, foster business connections and market Brand Zimbabwe. The country will participate at this world exposition. Our reporter Wallace Ruzvidzo (WR) sat down Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Japan Mr Stewart Nyakotyo (SN) to shed light on the country’s re-engagement drive and how the nation can benefit from the vast investment opportunities that come with this global showcase.
WR: How are the bilateral relations between Zimbabwe and Japan at present?
SN: Zimbabwe and Japan enjoy cordial bilateral relations following the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1980. I am happy that our bilateral relations are continuing to strengthen as witnessed by the increased number of official visits between the two countries as well people to people exchanges.
WR: Why does Zimbabwe’s participation at the expo matter?
SN: Japan will host Osaka 2025 World Expo from 13 April to 13 October 2025. The Expo will be held under the theme “Designing Future Society for Our Lives,” with the aim to create harmonious co-existence between mankind and the environment. Zimbabwe’s participation will enhance the existing cooperation between the two countries and afford our private sector a chance to foster business connections and market their goods and services.
WR: And how are the preparations going on both the Japanese and the Zimbabwean side?
SN: The Japan Association for the Osaka 2025 World Expo convened the 4th International Participants Meeting (IPM) from 25 June to 26 June 2024, to update participating countries and international organisations on progress regarding preparations for the Expo. The Zimbabwean delegation was led by the Commissioner General for the Expo, who is also ZimTrade Chief Executive Officer, Mr Allan Majuru. Zimbabwe is participating under the Expo’s Assistance Programme which is being extended through the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Zimbabwe has taken up Type C pavilions exhibition space of 80 square metres and construction of the pavilions are well on course. Each participating country has been afforded the opportunity to celebrate its National/Special Day and Zimbabwe has selected 16 July 2025 for this special event. The country is exhibiting under the sub-theme titled, “Connecting Lives”, which speaks to enriching societies through individual connections, community building, showcasing the power of partnerships, co-creation and the evolution of communication through Information Communication Technology (ICT) to achieve an ideal data society.
WR: What does Zimbabwe’s participation mean for the Zimbabwe-Japan relations and the country’s engagement and re-engagement drive?
SN: Since independence, Japan has assisted Zimbabwe in, among others, human resource development for public employees and supporting developmental programmes in the country through agencies such as JICA. Zimbabwe is expected to participate at the highest level and President Mnangagwa is expected to attend the expo. The expo is significant to us as we look forward to convening a Business Forum to accord an opportunity for businesses from both countries to link up and sign a number of agreements to deepen our cooperation. The expo will also afford the two countries an opportunity to discuss bilateral relations.
WR: What of engagements and economic cooperation between the two countries?
SN: There is potential for cooperation in various sectors which include health, education, agriculture, mining, environment and tourism. With regards to the latter, there has been a steady increase in the number of Japanese tourists visiting Zimbabwe post Covid-19. There are plans to intensify the people-to-people engagements through participation at events such as the 2025 Expo. Regards engagement and re-engagement, the embassy is advertising in the Japanese press, giving public lectures at universities, schools and business groupings to create awareness about Zimbabwe. The embassy engages Japanese companies to encourage them to invest in Zimbabwe. In my meetings with the companies, I explain the new investment environment under the Second Republic. As a result of these engagements, the embassy facilitated a visit by a group of Japanese students who undertook a familiarisation tour to Zimbabwe from 2 to 17 March 2024. The students visited Harare, Masvingo, Bulawayo, Hwange, and Victoria Falls. In addition, the embassy is collaborating with PLENUSTOUR a Japanese Travel Agency Company to disseminate Zimbabwe’s regional tourist information in Japanese language to the targeted segments of the Japanese market through their email magazine on a monthly basis. The embassy also successfully recruited eight tourism buyers and media from Japan and South Korea who participated at the Sanganai/Hlanganani tourism expo in September this year.
WR: What are the particular sectors or industries where mutual benefits could be derived from increased cooperation?
SN: Zimbabwe is keen to attract Japanese investment into its power sector, against the backdrop of serious power shortages the country is facing. Zimbabwe’s mining sector needs energy to operate at full production. Companies in Japan import products from Zimbabwe’s mines such as petalite and other mineral products. The embassy is encouraging Japanese investments in the extraction and beneficiation of lithium to guarantee supply of the products to Japanese industries.
WR: Are there any efforts to strengthen Zimbabwe and Japan relations, especially in light of escalating uncertainties globally?
SN: Given the global tensions in areas such as the Middle East and the Korean peninsula, the Expo is an opportune time for Zimbabwe and Japan to strengthen cooperation in order to ensure reliable supply chains. Our two countries could consider establishing joint venture companies or our private sectors could consider outsourcing to further strengthen collaboration between our two countries. These issues will be discussed at the Business Forum I have alluded to earlier. My hope is to see trade volumes increase between the two countries after the Expo as well as increased people-to-people exchanges.
WR: Thank you for your time Ambassador.
SN: It has been a pleasure Wallace.
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