President Mnangagwa in Dubai

Dubai (New Ziana)-President Emmerson Mnangagwa arrived in Dubai on Sunday to attend the fifth edition of the Global Business Forum on Africa that seeks to foster economic cooperation between African countries and the United Arab Emirates.

The President was invited by the ruler of Dubai, and the visit is part of Zimbabwe’s engagement and re-engagement policy to re-join the global community of nations after decades of isolation.

Finance and Economic Development Minister Prof Mthuli Ncube, who travelled with the President, told Zimbabwean media here that the country hopes to use the high level meeting to strengthen relations with UAE.

“This is a conference that brings African business together along with partners here in the UAE and also globally. It is our hope that we will be able to cement our relations with UAE going forward.

“We have a strong relation with the UAE. We received medical equipment from them and we continue to trade between the two countries and we hope that we grow but also will network with other countries here,” he said.

The GBF Africa 2019, which opens on Monday, is organised by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry and is expected to open new economic links between Africa and the UAE.

The meeting is supported by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Running under the theme, “Scale up Africa”, GBF Africa 2019 will bring together African and UAE government leaders to explore areas of economic cooperation and facilitate trade and investment.

Captains of industry from both Africa and the UAE will also attend the GBF Africa 2019 whose key focus is on how public and private sector players in Africa and the UAE can work together to ensure sustainable economic partnerships.

The meeting will also reflect on the role of public-private cooperation and start-ups in driving economic growth, key challenges and opportunities that are emerging in Africa.

Since its inception, GBF Africa has served as a catalyst for UAE-Africa economic cooperation and business exchange.

New Ziana