Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Jonathan WutawunasheThe Herald | 20 August 2024Zim, Saudi Arabia work on agric map
by Zvamaida Murwira
Zimbabwe and Saudi Arabia have started working on a roadmap of cooperation in agriculture, which will see knowledge transfers from modern research in the kingdom.
A delegation from the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Company (Salic) was in Harare last week to explore areas of cooperation, particularly in livestock.
Their visit came on the heels of President Mnangagwa’s trip to Saudi Arabia in November last year where he attended the Saudi-Africa summit.
In an interview from Riyadh, Zimbabwe’s Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Jonathan Wutawunashe said Salic was excited by the discussions they had in Zimbabwe and looked forward to drawing a roadmap of cooperation.
The delegation met officials from the Ministry of Lands, Agriculture, Fisheries, Water and Rural Development, Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency, Grain Marketing Board and Agricultural and Rural Development Authority.
Ambassador Wutawunashe said by establishing a resident embassy in Saudi Arabia recently, Zimbabwe showed its commitment to strengthening diplomatic and trade relations.
“The Second Republic is committed to its engagement and re-engagement thrust and has sharpened its thrust by broadening its diplomatic presence in key markets.
“Developments in relations with Saudi Arabia, where Zimbabwe recently established an embassy, illustrate the importance of an approach that seeks to strengthen ties through mutually advantageous engagements.
“The visit to Zimbabwe last week by a delegation from the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Company (Salic) to explore complementaries in the area of food security is a case in point,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe who arrived in Saudi capital Riyadh just over two months ago.
He said Zimbabwe is poised for greater prosperity particularly in agriculture through cooperation with Salic.
“Salic, which is charged by royal decree to make strategic investments at home and abroad to ensure food security in Saudi Arabia, is a good fit for several of our State institutions, as well as for our private sector, in the area of agriculture, livestock and agribusiness.
“We were insistent that they should visit, particularly at a time when there was a definitive buzz around what Sadc countries like Zimbabwe have to offer that dovetails with Saudi Arabia’s requirements,” said Amb Wutawunashe.
He said the feedback he got was that Zimbabwe and representatives of Salic had productive meetings which are set to revolutionise the agriculture sector.
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“From what I got about the interaction between the two sides, the meetings uncovered great potential for fruitful engagement going forward,” said Ambassador Wutawunashe.
It is envisaged that Salic will provide technical assistance and knowledge transfer to Zimbabwe on the livestock value chain from breeding, feed production and marketing.
Cooperation between the two countries will also result in Zimbabwe adopting advanced livestock management practices.
Salic was established as a Saudi joint-stock company owned by the Public Investment Fund.
Its doctrine stipulates that all its investment activities should be both inside and outside the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to achieve food security.
