South African President Cyril Ramaphosa arrived in Harare on Friday to open Zimbabwe's annual agricultural show, underscoring strengthening trade ties between the two southern African neighbors.
Ramaphosa landed at Robert Mugabe International Airport early Friday morning at the invitation of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa to participate as guest of honor at the 115th Zimbabwe Agricultural Show, which runs through Saturday.
The visit highlights growing economic cooperation between the countries, with bilateral trade reaching 69.21 billion rand ($3.7 billion) in South African exports to Zimbabwe last year, up from 57.5 billion rand in 2023, according to Ramaphosa's spokesperson Vincent Magwenya.
"The visit will provide the president with an opportunity to solidify the cordial relations that exist between South Africa and Zimbabwe, particularly in the economic sector," Magwenya said in a statement.
The agricultural show, operating under the theme "Building Bridges: Connecting Agriculture, Industry and Commerce," marks its 130th anniversary since founding in 1895. The event has drawn 580 exhibitors occupying 79,500 square meters of exhibition space, up from 570 exhibitors last year.
International participation has expanded to include exhibitors from Pakistan, Nigeria, Brazil, Ghana, Tanzania, India, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, reflecting the show's growing regional importance.
Over 120 South African companies operate in Zimbabwe across mining, aviation, tourism, banking, retail and construction sectors. Vegetables constitute the largest export category, contributing 11.9 billion rand to total exports.
Zimbabwe exported 5.4 billion rand worth of goods to South Africa in 2024, up from 4.4 billion rand the previous year.
"The two countries enjoy excellent bilateral relations and there are ongoing efforts to strengthen these ties," Zimbabwe Foreign Affairs spokesperson said.
The visit follows Nelson Mandela's attendance as guest of honor at the same event on August 26, 1994, shortly after South Africa's first democratic elections.
Deputy Minister of International Relations Alvin Botes and senior government officials accompanied Ramaphosa on the working visit.
Zimbabwe Agricultural Society Chief Executive Rufaro Gunundu said the show provides a critical platform for showcasing agricultural progress while addressing sector challenges. The event attracted 230,000 visitors last year.
