The British Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Peter Vowles, says in the past year, trade between the two countries increased by 76 percent, an improvement over the previous years and saw that as an important part of growing Zimbabwe’s economy.
Vowles said there are ongoing efforts to mend the historically strained relationship between the two countries, noting a noticeable thawing of hostility from both sides after two decades of tension.
In a bid to further foster trade relations, the ambassador revealed that the United Kingdom has taken steps to reduce trade barriers and implement a ‘forever’ duty-free or quota-free system for Zimbabwean entrepreneurs.
“If you are in the renewable sector or if you are a factory worker in the UK, work in the factory producing a generator or solo technology and your family is Zimbabwe, living in Gwanda, you are benefiting from the trade and access to energy. It’s a win-win,” Vowels said in an interview with CITE at the British Embassy stand at the ongoing 64th edition of the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) exhibition in Bulawayo.
Vowels highlighted it is important to think of trade as a partnership that connects people, families, communities and countries.
“I see lots of opportunities in Zimbabwe for us to continue strengthening our trade. It’s true to say our trade is not as big as it was in the 1990s but my embassy’s commitment is to increase that trade.”
The UK envoy said trade has been increasing year on year and increased by 76 percent from last year.
“I hope to see that improve again next year as we build our trade relationship,” Vowles said, adding although the two worked in different areas, the ‘most’ opportunity for Britain and Zimbabwe’s partnership is in the renewable sector and that’s more about bringing investment into Zimbabwe.”
He added there is also more opportunity in the agricultural sector, with the UK supporting Zimbabwe’s export to British markets.
“I think the export side is really interesting. There are lots of agricultural suppliers in Zimbabwe who export to Britain whether it’s citrus, blueberries or chillies and that’s good,” said the ambassador.
“We just started a partnership with the horticultural council to expand that because we want to see that move. It’s just not the commercial farms so if you are a communal farmer growing chillies, you can benefit from the supply chain to get your chillies into British markets. That brings you foreign currency and stability for families.”
Vowels said the UK had taken away some trade barriers and if one was a young entrepreneur or farmer, they did not have to pay any duty to access British markets.
“That’s really good, there are some women here on the stand who are exporting their handmade goods that will get into British shops,” he said, adding the demand for Zimbabwe products or produce is high whether it was in supermarkets locally.
“There’s an opportunity and we are keen. That’s why we have a full team on the stand, looking forward to meeting with businesses, and entrepreneurs who are interested in our markets and how we can help do that, making full use of our duty and quota-free access to British markets.”
In the past year, the UK ambassador said his embassy has done several trade missions to his country, taking a couple of young entrepreneurs to Birmingham in January to showcase their goods.
“This helps people understand what British consumers want, then tailor-make goods to meet those markets,” Vowels said, adding that the UK has an increasingly large Zimbabwean population they are proud of.
The diplomat also stated that it was “fair” to highlight that Zimbabwe and Britain’s relationship had been strained over the previous 20 years, but that they were working to improve it.
“As I have said before, that’s probably from both sides, UK and Zimbabwe. We became quite emotional both in Zimbabwe and the UK,” Vowles acknowledged.
“My team has been trying in the last few years to normalise that relationship and I think that’s what you are seeing in our tone from both sides. The opportunity is for us to partner between Britain and Zimbabwe and that’s an approach you will see across the continent. It’s not specific to Zimbabwe alone. We are trying to act with a greater sense of partnership in everything we do.”
On the policy front, Vowles stated the two countries had an Economic Partnership Arrangement (EPA) that guaranteed Zimbabwe’s access to British markets, quotas, and duty-free status “forever.”
“Even when Zimbabwe becomes a middle income country those arrangements would continue,” said the diplomat.
“The key now is not policy formulation but the execution of the policy. I’ve met over the (one) year, traders who haven’t known about how to do the documentation and have been paying some duty. We want to make sure those traders understand how to complete the paperwork process so they can benefit from that policy agreement.”
The ambassador added that Zimbabwe and Britain are “so similar in many ways.”
“We share so much. We share a history, some of it is difficult, hopefully, we can have a future together on these very common interests,” said Vowles.
