Story by Stanley James, Business Editor
The 7th SADC Industrialisation Week, which ended in Harare this Thursday has been described as a success with over 3600 delegates taking part at the annual event.
More than 260 exhibitors were part of the SADC Industrialisation Week, which also saw the country’s biggest industrial body, the Confederation of Zimbabwe Industries (CZI) assuming the chairmanship of the SADC Business Council.
For the next year, CZI will be mandated with leading efforts to facilitate the growth of companies in the region.
“The Industrialisation Week has been a success after over 3600 delegates attended the event. Going forward, we are confident of the benefits that will accrue from holding such an event,” said CZI’s chief executive officer, Ms Sekai Kuvarika.
SADC economies are confident that Zimbabwe will further scale up the industrial productivity thrust as the chair of the regional bloc business council.
SADC’s Deputy Executive Secretary for Regional Integration, Ms Angeline Makombo N’tumba said, “It is really with great pleasure that I would like to express my gratitude to the government of Zimbabwe. This event has emerged as a beacon for the SADC community. The commitment demonstrated by the government of Zimbabwe has made this event amazing and memorable. I would further like to express my sincere appreciation to the private section and development partners who have played a crucial role to the success of this event.”
The SADC industrialisation week also attracted the interest of several regional and global investors in a move that confirms Zimbabwe as a safe and viable business destination.
“We had successful engagements during the SADC Industrialisation Week. Therefore, I would like to extend my sincere gratitude to all stakeholders for ensuring the hosting of the SADC Industrialisation Week which has become one of the best since its inception. Several discussions were held and we witnessed several exhibitors also taking part, in the region we believe in a private sector investment drive.
“I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all the guests who came from different countries. Your invaluable contributions will enable us to adopt policies and strategies that promote value-addition strategies from our natural resources,” said the Minister of Industry and Commerce, Honourable Mangaliso Ndlovu.
Takeaways from a declaration released during the closing ceremony of the industrialisation week include the need to include private sector participation in economic affairs, the need to address funding challenges facing firms, minimising barriers to improve trade, investment and knowledge-driven economies, capacity building for emerging firms, and adopting clean energy systems, among others
