By Abigirl Tembo

Russian investors are increasingly turning their attention to Zimbabwe following Vice President General (Rtd) Dr Constantino Chiwenga’s visit to Nizhny Novgorod, where he engaged government officials, technology leaders and business executives at the CIPR Conference.

Representing President Dr Emmerson Mnangagwa, Vice President Chiwenga led a high-level delegation focused on attracting investment and strengthening industrial and digital cooperation between Zimbabwe and Russia.

The engagements generated fresh momentum in bilateral relations, with several Russian companies expressing interest in expanding operations into Zimbabwe and the wider African market.

“Our company is among the leading producers of buses, trucks and steel pipes in Russia, and we are looking to expand cooperation with Zimbabwe and the African market,” one investor said.

Another investor noted: “We work with a large network of producers and suppliers, and most of our companies already have extensive experience in international partnerships and export markets.”

A third company representative said 2025 marked the beginning of exports into Zimbabwe, adding, “We currently supply our products to more than 90 countries worldwide, and 2025 became the first year we started exporting to Zimbabwe.”

Another investor highlighted opportunities in infrastructure and transport modernisation, saying: “We specialise in transport infrastructure and light vehicles, and we believe there is strong potential for cooperation with Zimbabwe as the country modernises its industrial sector.”

During the visit, the Zimbabwean delegation toured a Special Economic Zone in Nizhny Novgorod Oblast to assess advanced manufacturing systems and investor-focused infrastructure.

Vice President Chiwenga also participated in high-level discussions on artificial intelligence and global industries, alongside bilateral talks with regional governor Gleb Nikitin aimed at expanding economic cooperation.

Speaking on the sidelines of the forum, Vice President Chiwenga said Zimbabwe is seeking strategic partnerships to accelerate economic growth.

“At this forum, we are seeking to establish communication and partnerships that can lead to investment opportunities in Zimbabwe and strengthen trade relations between Zimbabwe, this region and the Russian Federation,” he said. v“We are now focusing on economic cooperation because other areas are already well covered. We are looking for long-term partners who can support Zimbabwe on its path of economic development.”

On artificial intelligence and digitisation, the Vice President said Zimbabwe intends to draw lessons from Russia’s technological transformation.

“We are studying the possibilities of using artificial intelligence because it plays an important role in accelerating economic growth. However, it must be used responsibly and in the right hands,” he said.

“The Russian economy has been significantly digitalised, and this is an area where Zimbabwe also wants to leapfrog by digitising all aspects of economic development.”

As the visit concludes, Zimbabwe is expected to leverage the engagements to deepen economic ties with Moscow while advancing its industrialisation and digital transformation agenda under the Second Republic.

The Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation