Debra Matabvu in OSAKA, Japan
PRESIDENT MNANGAGWA will on Wednesday lead Zimbabwe’s National Day celebrations here at the ongoing World Expo 2025 Osaka.
During his visit, he will also headline a high-level business forum aimed at showcasing the country’s investment opportunities and strengthening bilateral ties with Japan.
The National Day is one of the most significant moments for each participating country at the expo, offering a chance to highlight its culture, innovation and national identity through a dedicated programme of events.
For Zimbabwe, this day serves as a platform to reaffirm its global presence and promote its vision under the theme “Beyond the limits”.
In a statement yesterday, the Office of the President and Cabinet (OPC) said: “The Republic of Zimbabwe is proud to announce its National Day celebrations at Expo 2025 Osaka, taking place on July 16, 2025.
“The event will be graced by His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe, Dr Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa, who will deliver a keynote address and lead the Zimbabwean delegation in commemorating this significant occasion.”
The National Day ceremony will take place from 11am to midday Japanese time (4am to 5am in Zimbabwe) at the National Day Hall (Ray Gardens).
It will feature high-level addresses, cultural performances and exhibitions of Zimbabwean art, music and heritage.
The President is also expected to hold bilateral meetings with Japanese government officials and engage investors and business leaders to explore trade and investment partnerships across sectors such as agriculture, mining, tourism, energy and infrastructure.
Preceding the celebrations, a Zimbabwe-Japan business forum will be held on Tuesday at the Grand Prince Hotel Osaka.
The forum will bring together policymakers, investors and industry leaders from both countries to deepen economic cooperation.
President Mnangagwa will deliver a special address outlining Zimbabwe’s strategy for innovation and sustainable development.
“The forum will convene Zimbabwean and Japanese government officials, investors and business leaders to explore bilateral trade investments opportunities,” the OPC added.
“His Excellency, the President, will outline Zimbabwe’s future innovation and sustainability. Zimbabwe extends a warm invitation to all expo visitors, dignitaries and partners to participate in this landmark celebration of national pride, innovation and cultural heritage.”
Zimbabwe’s Commissioner-General to the expo Mr Allan Majuru told The Sunday Mail that the country will use the celebrations to showcase its culture, heritage and economic aspirations.
“The Zimbabwe National Day will be a key moment for us at Expo 2025 as it will be a celebration of our national identity. There will be cultural performances, high-level speeches and a themed programme that ties into our expo participation theme, ‘Beyond the limits’, ensuring that we unlock value through innovation and partnerships,” he said.
Mr Majuru, who is also ZimTrade’s chief executive officer, said the day will include targeted engagement with international visitors, investors and importers of Zimbabwean products.
“A targeted programme for business, the Zimbabwe Business Forum, will precede the National Day on July 15, which will draw attention to tourism, investment and trade opportunities in Zimbabwe.
“We are taking this chance to show that Zimbabwe is open for business and ready to take its rightful place on the global economic stage,” he said.
The forum, he added, will promote investment sectors such as manufacturing, mining, agriculture and energy.
Zimbabwe is planning business-to-business (B2B) sessions and curated networking events that allow for meaningful engagement beyond the usual speeches.
“It (the forum) gives our businesses the chance to pitch directly to partners in Japan and Asia and to understand market needs and standards,” said Mr Majuru.
“We are promoting investment across sectors such as manufacturing, energy, agro-processing, horticulture and value addition in mining.
“These are the sectors where we see real global demand and where Zimbabwe has the raw material base to scale up quickly with the right partnerships.”
Zimbabwe is among 158 countries and seven international organisations participating in Expo 2025 Osaka, which started on April 13 and runs until October 13.
The expo is a global event held every five years to showcase innovations and ideas that tackle some of humanity’s most pressing challenges.
Under the overarching theme “Designing future society for our lives”, Expo 2025 Osaka aims to foster international collaboration, innovation and cultural exchange.
This year’s event is being held in Osaka, Japan’s second-largest metropolitan area, and is expected to attract millions of visitors from around the world.
The post President to lead National Day celebrations . . .Zim-Japan business forum slated for Tuesday appeared first on herald.
The post President to lead National Day celebrations . . .Zim-Japan business forum slated for Tuesday appeared first on Zimbabwe Situation.