The NIP joint cooperation strategy is funded under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) covering 2014-2020 and comes three months after the EU resumed direct engagement with Zimbabwe.
Prior to that, support went through non-state agencies such as UNDP.
The EU will concentrate its cooperation under NIP on the three key sectors of health, agriculture as well as governance and institution building.
Secretary for finance and economic development, Willard Manungo welcomed the funding that he said would boost sustainable development.
“The signature of the NIP has come at an opportune time for Zimbabwe, following the lapse of Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement on 1st November 2014, which paved way for direct engagement with the EU under the 11th EDF.
“The EU support will go a long way in complementing Government’s efforts in providing an enabling environment for sustainable economic empowerment and social transformation to the people of Zimbabwe, as we implement ZimAsset (the economic blueprint adopted in late 2013),” he said.
He added that the Zimbabwean government was committed to full re-engagement with the EU that had put restrictions to engagement with Zimbabwe about a decade before.
The EU will this month review travel bans on President Robert Mugabe, his wife and a few remaining individuals.
The Head of the EU Delegation to Zimbabwe, Ambassador Philippe Van Damme, hailed the signing.
"Today, with the signature of the NIP, we have made an important step in our cooperation with Zimbabwe. We look forward to work in all the strategic and important areas covered by this National Indicative Programme, with the aim to foster the political and economic reforms Zimbabwe is undertaking. A fruitful political and policy dialogue should underpin our cooperation," he said.
Post published in: News