300% growth in bilateral trade with UAE reflects Afro-Arab historical partnership: President of Zimbabwe

300% growth in bilateral trade with UAE reflects Afro-Arab historical partnership: President of Zimbabwe

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DUBAI - A 300 percent jump in Zimbabwe-UAE bilateral trade during the past three years and corresponding growth in overall ties reflect the historical partnership between Africa and the Arab world, President of Zimbabwe Emmerson Mnangagwa, told the Emirates News Agency (WAM).

"The relations between Zimbabwe and the UAE are growing so fast in all sectors. Three years ago, our bilateral trade was around $US400 million [only], but it jumped in 2021 to US$1.6 billion, and the UAE has now become Zimbabwe’s second-largest trading partner," he said.

Speaking to WAM on Tuesday in Dubai, during his three-day official visit to the UAE, Mnangagwa said he and his people still cherished a helping hand from the UAE leadership at a crucial time, which was a turning point in the relations.

Turning point in relations

On the second day of his three-day state visit to the UAE in March 2019, a Cyclone Idai hit Zimbabwe. "So, I cut short my visit and rushed back home because, sadly, it had caused a lot of destruction of property and lives. We lost over 600 people and another 600 disappeared," the president recollected.

"Then, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme