Story by Tapiwa Machemedze
INDUSTRIALISTS have called for increased export incentives to remain competitive as the government crafts a new industrialisation policy in line with the vision of an upper-middle-income society by 2030.
Zimbabwe is working on a new industrial development policy which seeks to grow the sector by at least two percent annually over the next six years.
Industrialists who attended the Zimbabwe National Industrial Development Policy Indaba in Bindura this Tuesday are supportive of the move, but require assistance to be more competitive.
“In the area of export, we need to incentivise exporters so that we have a bigger share of the market and we need to include everyone. We want SMEs to participate so that they grow and the whole country will be industrialised,” said Panvert engineer, Mr Vitalis Pavari.
Paddy’s Apparel director, Mr Patrick Chirendo said, “Our industry is now very far from the latest technologies in this era so I would like the policy to include a system where people will catch up with the fourth industrial revolution in a way that is international.”
The new national industrial development policy will run from 2024 to 2030.
Harare Province Acting Commerce Director in the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, Mr Enias Muradzvi said, “The first policy did not have an M and E framework, so we have included that this time around, secondly, we have gone for a whole of government approach and that is why we are consulting everyone.”
The policy is expected to grow exports by 10 percent per annum and increase employment in the manufacturing sector by 20 percent.
