africatodayonline.blogspot.com -
HARARE, Oct 3 (BERNAMA-NNN-NEW ZIANA) -- Britain plans to resume economic ties with Zimbabwe which London had frozen due to political differences between the two countries, says new British ambassador to Zimbabwe Catronia Laing.
Britain, along with the European Union (EU), imposed economic sanctions on Harare over a decade ago in retaliation against land reforms implemented by Zimbabwe.
Laing said here Thursday that an official British business delegation would visit Zimbabwe at the end of this month to explore trade and investment opportunities in the country.
Britain's renewed interest in Zimbabwe, a former colony, comes on the heels of a scramble for the country's trade and investment opportunities by China and Russia.
Russia and China over the last two months have clinched investment deals worth billions of dollars in energy, telecommunications and mining, prompting the policy re-assessment by London.
Speaking to the media after presenting her credentials to President Robert Mugabe at the State House, Laing said she had discussed with Mugabe areas in which the two countries could work together.
"For the first time in many years we are sponsoring an official trade delegation to Zimbabwe at the end of October. A number of different companies will be coming here to look at areas like energy and infrastructure," she said.
Laing said many British companies were eager to invest in Zimbabwe, highlighting that her government would provide necessary support to companies wising to come to the country.
On its part, Zimbabwe ought to reform its investment climate mainly by ensuring policy consistency in order to attract investment, she added.
Mugabe has been telling western countries that Zimbabwe was ready to re-engage with them to restore economic ties.
-- BERNAMA-NNN-NEW ZIANA
