Zimbabwe-Japan trade reaches $43 million

Trade between Zimbabwe and Japan topped $43 million in the 10 months to October this year with Zimbabwe  importing goods worth $41.5 million from the Asian country, an envoy has said.

Japanese ambassador to Zimbabwe Yoshinobu Hiraishi on Thursday told delegates attending the celebration to mark the birthday of the Japanese Emperor Akihito that Zimbabwe mainly imported vehicles and machinery from Japan.

“Japan imported goods worth about $1.6 million from Zimbabwe mainly ferro-chrome, tobacco and cotton,” said Hiraishi.

The Ambassador, however, said he would like to see trade between the two countries growing significantly in the coming years.

“We hope that in five years, the bilateral relationship and economy will recover to the levels before the year 2000. It also depends on Zimbabwe’s economic and political situation, hoping that ZimAsset will be successfully completed by then,” he said.

Trade between Zimbabwe and Japan took a knock between 2002 and 2012 but Hiraishi said that Japanese were keen to invest in the southern African country and were keeping an eye on the economic and political developments in Zimbabwe.

“Many Japanese companies are showing their interest in the high potential of this country. They are taking into account its abundant human resources and infrastructure,” he said.

“Many of them are now seeking business opportunities through dispatching their fact finding missions to this country. It is my sincere hope that the relationship between our two nations will be revitalised in the business sector as well.”

Japanese companies currently operating in the country are Toyota Zimbabwe, Willowvale Mazda and Kansai Plascon Astra Industry. Other car and electronics manufacturers such as Honda, Nissan, Sharp and Sony sell their products through their local agents.- The Source

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