Story by Oleen Ndori, Foreign Desk Editor
Zimbabwe’s continued invitation to participate at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland continues to grow the country’s engagement and re-engagement drive in pursuit of strong economic growth.
In 2018, Zimbabwe joined other countries at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland for the first time in many years as the Second Republic sought to re-engage with the rest of the global community.
As the country continues to attend the global gathering, Zimbabwe’s top envoy to Switzerland, Ambassador Stuart Comberbach says the platform is key in deepening the country’s engagement thrust while also providing a platform for economic engagement for growth.
Ambassador Comberbach said, ‘‘For Zimbabwe to be represented here, to be invited to participate here at the Word Economic Forum is a very important development for Zimbabwe to continue the programme of engagement and re-engagement. This is a forum that brings together political, business, civil society, academics, and leaders from across the world. It gives a chance to speak on progress made in politics, social and economic reforms being made, issues of self-reliance being led by the President and government, issues of sanctions and depending on ourselves.’’
Ambassador Comberbach added that this year’s meeting is the platform for the challenges and aspirations of the global South to be heard particularly in the face of the continued Russia-Ukraine standoff that has affected the global economy.
Ambassador Comberbach noted, ‘‘The hope is that this year there will be a better platform to look at issues affecting the global south and how the issues affecting it can better respond particularly given that the last session was consumed with the Russia-Ukraine conflict that has affected everyone globally.’’
Top on the agenda for Davos 2023 are concerns over a possible global recession, the continued challenge of climate change and the ongoing military activities between Russia and Ukraine and their downstream effects, including the negative effects on the world’s grain and oil trade.
