Ambassador's Message
Welcome to the official website of the Embassy of Japan in Zimbabwe.
I arrived in Zimbabwe as the new Japanese Ambassador in May 2014.
Since 1980, Zimbabwe’s Independence, Japan has been maintaining its friendly terms with the country. In June 2013, a summit meeting between Prime Minister Abe and President Mugabe was held at the Fifth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD V). At the meeting, it was agreed to further strengthen bilateral relationships between our two counties. We will develop our bilateral relationships through the dispatch of JICA experts and volunteers and the implementation of Grant Aid programmes. Furthermore many Japanese companies have visited Zimbabwe to survey the potential of trade and investment. Following the visit of the Public and Private sectors’ Joint Mission in August 2012, some Japanese companies have established businesses in the country.
Zimbabwe is not only endowed with abundant natural and human resources but also has some remarkable artists known worldwide. The Harare International Festival of the Arts (HIFA), which is one of the biggest art festivals in Africa, is held annually from the end of April to the beginning of May. A lot of international artists including Japanese artists participate in it. Harare may become the international cultural hub of Africa in the near future.
We will continue to provide sound and relevant information on the relationship between our two countries, including business activities and cultural exchange programmes.
Ambassador Yoshinobu Hiraishi
4th June 2011
