India and Zimbabwe recently conducted their third round of Foreign Office Consultations in Harare, where they evaluated and discussed the state of their bilateral relations. The meeting focused on enhancing cooperation in various areas including development partnerships, trade, economic relations, digital technology, agriculture, health, defense, consular affairs, and cultural exchanges.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that the consultations took place on August 6, 2024. Puneet R. Kundal, Additional Secretary for East and Southern Africa at the MEA, led the Indian delegation, while Mike Chigiji, Chief Director of Political Affairs at Zimbabwe’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, headed the Zimbabwean side.
During the discussions, both nations explored regional and global issues of shared interest, including their collaboration within the United Nations. The talks offered an opportunity to review the current status of their relationship and identify further opportunities for deepening their ties.
The MEA highlighted that the review included examining existing mechanisms such as the Joint Commission and the Joint Trade Committee. They also covered sectoral cooperation in defense, agriculture, health, mining, digital platforms, education, training, and cultural exchanges.
Both parties agreed to schedule their next Foreign Office Consultations in New Delhi at a mutually convenient time. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal posted on X, detailing the meeting’s outcomes and emphasizing the discussions on strengthening cooperation across various sectors.
