Story by Owen Mandovha
STAKEHOLDERS who attended the International Business Conference at the Zimbabwe International Trade Fair (ZITF) this Wednesday have come to a consensus that drastic interventions are required to accelerate Zimbabwe’s industrialisation agenda.
The record number of attendees gathered at the ZITF attests to the serious attention being given to accelerate Zimbabwe’s industrialisation.
These were frank discussions that laid bare gaps that needs to be filled, requiring urgent intervention from policymakers to create a modern industrialized society.
“Our manufacturing capacity has not moved from the gains that we earned in reindustrialising the economy. For example, we are importing packaging to the tune of US$300 million which is needless so we really need to spearhead that and there are opportunities in that sector,” CZI Chief Executive Officer, Sakai Kuvarika said.
“Our portion of manufactured exports is very low at 5 % hence we need to increase the level of innovation so as to achieve that,” ZITF Chairman, Mr Busisa Moyo said.
“Innovation needs to be tradition-based and Zimbabwe requires to create its own systems that can be used to rally its own industrialisation agenda,” JICA, Senior Advisor, Dr Gaku Funabashi said.
The Minister of Industry and Commerce Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu made an undertaking to respond to the concerns raised by industry.
“Research is key to accelerating the innovation and industrialisation of the country and we pledge to create a policy framework that speaks to the growth of Zimbabwe industry,” Honourable Ndlovu said.
Guest of Honour at the Conference Vice President General Retired Dr Constantino Chiwenga assured delegates of Government’s commitment to establishing a new era of policy framework that speaks to industry’s concerns.
