Sunday Mail Reporter
SPEAKER of the National Assembly Advocate Jacob Mudenda has underscored the need to strengthen economic cooperation between Zimbabwe and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in the mining, agriculture and tourism sectors.
Adv Mudenda made the remarks last week while on a three-day visit to the UAE, where he was leading a delegation comprising members of the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Foreign Affairs and International Trade.
The visit was at the invitation of president of the UAE Federal National Council Mr Saqr Ghabash.
Adv Mudenda also expressed commitment to pursue agreements that were discussed during President Mnangagwa’s visit to the UAE in 2019.
He indicated that the two Parliaments can play a pivotal role in enacting legislation to mitigate the effects of climate change.
Adv Mudenda commended the UAE for its preparations towards hosting the 28th United Nations Climate Change Conference (CoP28) later this year.
He urged the UAE to support operationalisation of the climate change loss and damage fund.
He commended the UAE leaders for transforming the country into a highly digitised and industrialised economy over the last 50 years.
The Speaker also called on the two Parliaments to enact laws that promote a conducive investment environment to enable the ease of doing business to boost bilateral economic ties between the two countries.
During the visit, the Zimbabwe delegation met officials of two leading corporations in the UAE — Mubadala and Eagle Hills — who expressed their keenness to invest in lithium mining and real estate development.
Mr Ghabash applauded the solid bilateral relations that exist between the two countries.
President Mnangagwa’s visit to the UAE during the World Expo 2020, was testament of the sound bilateral relations between the two countries.
He indicated that the UAE was geared to host CoP28, and expressed his country’s willingness to invest in solar energy development.