[Ferro-Alloys.com] Zimbabwe and Japan Sign Agreements to Reinforce Economic Partnership During World Expo 2025

In the context of World Expo 2025 (#WE2025) held in Osaka, Japan from 13 April to 13 October 2025, Japan and Zimbabwe jointly organized a Business Forum to strengthen economic cooperation. Upon invitation from the Japanese Government, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa led a high-level delegation comprising of ministers and high officials to the Expo.

The Business Forum took place at the Grand Prince Hotel in Osaka Bay on 15 July 2025. On that occasion, Zimbabwe and Japan signed a number of Memoranda of Understanding covering tourism, mining, manufacturing and digitalization under the watchful eye of President Mnangagwa.

“Our country has a sound legal framework that guarantee property rights and numerous investment incentives. I have come with a clear and confident message: Zimbabwe is open for business; open to investment; open to trade; open to innovation; and open to partnerships that are focused on sustainable growth and mutual benefit.’

Zimbabwe President Emmerson Mnangagwa

In his keynote address, President Mnangagwa repeated his mantra that ‘Zimbabwe is open for business’ and he assured business people that his Government is keen to listen to them to address any challenges and iron out any roadblocks in order to streamline investment and trade.

In 2024, imports from Japan to Zimbabwe amounted to USD 60 million and consisted mostly of vehicles and machinery. On the other hand, Zimbabwe exports to Japan stood at only USD 20 million in 2024. The exports mainly tobacco, cotton, raw hides, and various mineral ores such as ferrochrome, manganese, nickel, and platinum. The bilateral trade volume has displayed a sustained growth pattern over the last few years and is expected to take an exponential growth trajectory.

Zimbabwean Minister of Tourism Barbara Rwodzi signed an MoU with the Japan Tourism Agency (JTA) while Minister of Mines Winston Chitando signed another one with the Japanese Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC). Additionally, the Ministry of Industry and Commerce Permanent Secretary Thomas Wushe signed an MoU with Toyota and Pegara.

Pegara is a Japanese startup which was hatched at the Osaka Innovation Hub and specializes in #AI and automation. In partnership with Pegara, #UNDP set up an Accelerator Lab in Zimbabwe to apply advanced technologies such as AI and drones in the agricultural field.

Prior to #COVID19, some 34,000 Japanese tourists came to visit Zimbabwe. The aim is to recover back to the previous high and even develop the Japanese source market furthermore in the future. In 2024, the number of Japanese tourists was less than 10,000, indicating efforts are still necessary to promote Zimbabwe as a travel destination in Japan.

As for Dr Thomas Wushe, he looked forward to collaboration in the automotive sector with giant car maker Toyoto and underlined that Zimbabwe is ready to foster #industrialization and more local value addition (#LVA).

The Toyota representative Masashi Nomoto declared the MoU put pen to paper the declarations of intentions to cooperate and Japanese firms are eager to turn the agreements into concrete results. The agreements are thus a clear sign of the commitment and willingness of both sides to further their economic partnership.

• [Editor:tianyawei]