Zimbabwe Upgrades 2025 Growth Forecast to 6.6 Percent on Tobacco, Gold Rally

Zimbabwe has raised its economic growth projection for 2025 to 6.6 percent, up from an earlier forecast of 6 percent, driven by a larger tobacco harvest and a surge in global gold prices, according to Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube. This growth outlook reflects recovery from the drought-induced slowdown in 2024, with agriculture and mining sectors, particularly tobacco and gold, playing key roles. The Zimbabwe Economic Development Conference highlighted the importance of sustainable macroeconomic policies and sectoral interventions in agriculture, mining, and manufacturing to support broad-based economic transformation aligned with Vision 2030. Meanwhile, India's exports are expected to grow by around 6 percent in 2025 despite challenges such as U.S. tariffs, with ongoing free trade agreement negotiations with the European Union and the United Arab Emirates bolstering trade prospects. The EU is seeking significant duty reductions on various goods in exchange for greater access to Indian products, and the EU-India strategic agenda includes cooperation on security, trade, and technology. Both Zimbabwe and India showcase resilience and strategic planning in their economic growth trajectories amid global uncertainties.