HC Deb 25 April 1983 vol 41 cc594-5
15. Mr. Proctor

asked the Minister for Trade if he will make a statement on current trade with Zimbabwe.

Mr. Peter Rees

British exports fob to Zimbabwe in 1982 amounted to £95 million, and imports from Zimbabwe cif amounted to £63 million. The expansion of trade between our countries since Zimbabwe's independence has been very encouraging. I hope that these trends will continue, in spite of very strong international competition.

Mr. Proctor

Will my hon. and learned Friend do what he can to continue free enterprise trade links with Zimbabwe, nothwithstanding the dreadful and disastrous moves towards a one-party Marxist state there?

Mr. Rees

I reassure my hon. Friend and the House that the United Kingdom is now the largest donor of bilateral aid to Zimbabwe, that there is a full range of BOTB support for British exports to that country, and that I believe that £200 million worth of projects with that country involving United Kingdom companies are now in the pipeline.

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