India–Zimbabwe relations

India and Zimbabwe have a long history of close and cordial relations. During the era of the Munhumutapa Kingdom, Indian merchants established strong links with Zimbabwe, trading in textiles, minerals and metals. Sons of the royal house of Munhumutapa journeyed to India to broaden their education. In the 17th century, a great son of Zimbabwe, Dom Miguel – Prince, Priest and Professor, and heir to the imperial throne of the Mutapas – studied in Goa. An inscribed pillar stands today at a chapel in Goa, a tribute to his intellectual stature. India supported Zimbabwe's freedom struggle. Former Prime Minister Smt. Indira Gandhi attended Zimbabwean independence celebrations in 1980. There were frequent exchanges of high-level visits in the past, bilateral or to attend Summits such as NAM, CHOGM and G-15. Former Prime Minister Shri Vajpayee and President Mugabe met twice in the year 2003 on the sidelines of UNGA and NAM Summit. Former President Mugabe attended the IAFS-III held Delhi in 2015. India supported Zimbabwe's independence movement. The then-Prime Minister Indira Gandhi attended the country's independence day celebrations in 1980. Prime Ministers Rajiv Gandhi, Narasimha Rao and H. D. Deve Gowda visited Zimbabwe in 1986, 1991, and 1996 to participate in the NAM Summit, CHOGM Summit, and G-15 Summit respectively. Presidents R. Venkataraman and S. D. Sharma made state visits to the country in 1991 and 1995 respectively. ==Capacity Building Programmes (ITEC & ICCR Scholarships)==

Assistance to Zimbabwe under the ITEC programme has been a regular feature of India's assistance to Zimbabwe for capacity building. ITEC and ICCR scholarships are much sought after by Zimbabweans. In 2017–18, 235 ITEC slots, 9 ICCR slots and 34 IAFS-III slots were utilised. During the period April–December 2018, 169 ITEC slots, 5 defence ITEC slots and 9 ICCR scholarships have been utilized. Over 1400 Zimbabweans have been trained in short-term civilian courses in India under the ITEC programme over the last ten years. Indian Institute of Foreign Trade in collaboration with ZimTrade conducted Executive Development Programme on International Business from 17 to 21 November, 2014 in Harare and another such Programme from March 9–13, 2015 in Bulawayo. Through various memoranda of understanding entered with institutions of great repute in India, The Harare Institute of Technology [HIT] is sending its students to various Universities to get degrees in Master of Technology in various disciplines such as Delhi Technological University; Amity University, Manessar; Sharda University; Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University; Vellore Institute of Technology; Rabindranath Tagore University; IIT Madras; Indian Institute of Welding; National Institute of Foundry and Forging Technology; Marwadi University; IIT Kharagpur; Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology; Institute of Technology and Management and Sri Ramaswamy Memorial Institute of Science and Technology. Under the Presidential and National |Scholarship Programme, Government of Zimbabwe has sent 42 students to Shimla University in 2018. The scholarship programme is co-sponsored by the Shimla University ==Economic relations==

Bilateral trade between India and Zimbabwe totalled US$222.31 million in 2014–15. Indian exports to Zimbabwe stood at $222.19 million, while imports stood at $120,000. Indian public sector firms such as Indian Railway Construction Company (IRCON), Rail India Technical & Economic Services (RITES), Water and Power Consultancy Services (WAPCOS) and Telecommunications India Ltd. (TCIL) are active in Zimbabwe. Kirloskar and Jain Irrigation supply pumps and irrigation equipment to Zimbabwe. Indian pharmaceutical firms have a strong presence in the Zimbabwean market and Indian-made medicines are commonly found in the country. In April 2008, Chadha Power of India secured a contract to refurbish four units at the Hwange Thermal Power Station near Victoria Falls. ==Indian foreign aid==

India is involved in human resource development and capacity building efforts in Zimbabwe. India provides ITEC and ICCR scholarships to Zimbabwean citizens. ==Indians in Zimbabwe==

The beginning of Indian presence in Zimbabwe goes back to about 1890 when Indian plantation workers in apartheid South Africa crossed over to the then Rhodesia under the British South Africa Company. At present, the number of Zimbabweans of Indian origin, who are predominantly from the province of Gujarat, is estimated at 9,000. The community has formed societies on religious lines, though they live in harmony. This PIO community has mainly engaged itself in retail trade or export-import business, while the younger generations have mostly moved out of the country for better opportunities as professionals. A few hundred PIOs hold British/Australian passports. As regards the expatriate Indian community, their number is 500. Some of them are on long-term business/work permits while most are professionals engaged in computer software, accountancy, banking, etc. By and large, the Indian community is well respected in Zimbabwe and has maintained cordial relations with the majority community. Senator K. G. Patel was a member of the Politburo and Central Committee of the ruling party, he died in 2011 and was given Hero's status in 2012. Mr Bharat Patel is a Supreme Court Judge, Justice (Retd.) Justice Ahmed Ebrahim was awarded Pravasi Bhartiya Samman in 2004. Justice Bharat Patel, a PIO and High Court Judge, was appointed the judge of the Supreme Court of Zimbabwe in May 2013. Mr Raj Modi who was elected as ZANU-PF Member of Parliament from Bulawayo South has been appointed as Deputy Minister of Industry and Commerce in September 2018. ==See also==