We are happy to look back on a successful delegation trip to Zimbabwe in the beginning of October. The week combined strong business engagement, new partnerships, and a renewed commitment to sustainable collaboration between Denmark and Southern Africa.
Organized in partnership with the Danish Agriculture & Food Council, Afrika Consultancy, and supported by the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the delegation brought together Danish companies from the energy, agriculture, and food systems sectors. The goal was to explore opportunities for green growth and investment in one of Africa’s most promising markets.
“It was a really good trip. The first day was already well set up with a good conference at the hotel, where 60-70 people from potential companies and authorities such as the government were invited. There was a joint program from 10 am to 2 pm and then individual meetings until 6 pm.
The next two days, individual meetings were planned with companies that were interesting to each of us. I went to visit five companies, including FourSeason Spices. It was really good. Overall, it was exciting to be in a new country and experience the many positive opportunities in Zimbabwe,” says Henrik Wollesen, CEO Engsko Milling Systems.
Enormous potential
“The delegation trip to Zimbabwe was a great success – not least because the country holds enormous potential with its fertile agricultural land,” Jeppe Søndergaard Pedersen, International Chief Advisor at the Danish Agriculture & Food Council adds. He continues:
“The participating companies are already exploring and initiating projects with potential Zimbabwean partners. I have no doubt that Zimbabwe will become an increasingly interesting market for the Danish agriculture and food cluster in the years to come.”
A productive week in Harare
The week began in Harare with a vibrant welcome reception hosted by the Ministries of Energy, Agriculture, and Foreign Affairs in Zimbabwe, alongside the Zimbabwe Investment and Development Agency (ZIDA). Both Danish and Zimbabwean companies shared insights and explored opportunities for collaboration in areas such as sustainable food production, renewable energy, and digital solutions for agriculture.
Field visits across Harare and its surrounding areas followed, giving participants first-hand experience of local challenges and innovations in the sector.
“The atmosphere was electric,” says Florence Charamba, Managing Director of Afrika Consultancy, who led the delegation on the ground. “Every encounter sparked fresh ideas, meaningful connections, and the energy of true collaboration.”
The week also marked the arrival of H.E. Karin Poulsen, the incoming Danish Ambassador to Zimbabwe (as well as South Africa and seven other countries in the region), whose presence underscored Denmark’s growing diplomatic and commercial engagement in Southern Africa.
From business to policy dialogue
The business mission in Harare flowed naturally into the 22nd Africa–Nordic Foreign Ministers’ Meeting at Victoria Falls, held under the theme “Leveraging Technology and Collaboration for Future-Ready Societies.” Here, Denmark’s State Secretary for Foreign Policy, Lotte Machon, led the Danish delegation in discussions on trade and investment frameworks in Africa.
For Access2innovation and its partners, this alignment between private-sector engagement and high-level policy dialogue represents a key strength of the Nordic approach. “It was inspiring to see how policy-level cooperation and business partnerships can reinforce each other when built on mutual respect and shared goals,” says Florence Charamba.
Danish know-how can make a tangible difference
As the delegation concluded, new partnerships and follow-up activities were already taking shape. The visit highlighted Zimbabwe’s strong political will to attract investment and improve efficiency in agriculture, aquaculture, and food processing — sectors where Danish know-how can make a tangible difference.
Access2innovation thanks all participating companies and partners for their engagement and looks forward to seeing the ideas and collaborations from Harare and Victoria Falls grow into long-term, sustainable impact.
Next stop Kenya
The next delegation trip, which will take place in Kenya in Novmeber 2025, already counts eight Danish participants.
More to come:
In a future article, you’ll meet Michael Bjørn, Regional Salesmanager Africa, Cimbria. He is one of the participants who is already turning the trip’s insights into business opportunities.
