‘Prioritise buying locally produced goods’

INDUSTRY and Commerce Deputy Minister Raj Modi has urged Zimbabweans to prioritise buying locally produced goods over imports, saying this contributes to economic growth and the creation of jobs.

He said this during the Local Trade Expo, Business and Investment Conference hosted by the Youth Network Connect (YNC) in Bulawayo at the weekend.

The event, which ran under the theme “Current Business Practices and Future Trends Leading to Economic Growth and Sustainable Development” provided a platform for entrepreneurs, business owners, industrial professionals and students to network and share business ideas.

Deputy Minister Modi, who was the guest of honour commended YNC for coming up with the initiative.

“It is this partnership that holds the key that will unlock our country’s economic potential thus affording us a golden opportunity to launch a sustained onslaught on poverty, unemployment, inequality and underdevelopment. Indeed, all of us must accept that we carry joint responsibility to achieve economic growth for all,” he said.

“We will continue to count on the collective wisdom and energy of all our people and their organised formations. We believe that sharing ideas with practitioners and those operating in this policy environment will enable us to develop appropriate strategies and interventions for entrepreneurs.”

Deputy Minister Modi said Government will continue to support SMEs with an emphasis on programmes aimed at advancing entrepreneurship among women, people with disabilities and youth, to contribute to job creation and economic growth.

“Support mechanisms will include access to development, competitiveness, finance, business access, regulatory environment, advancing localisation, leveraging on public procurement. Consistent with the message of the President, our policy interventions will seek to ensure that small businesses thrive and can grow into profitable medium-sized businesses,” said Deputy Minister Modi.

He said the Government celebrates localisation which will help unlock Zimbabwe’s industry and trade potential through structured support of production and consumption of local goods and services.

“These are the synergies envisioned by His Excellency, the President of Zimbabwe in the National Development Strategy 1, in which he mandates my ministry to pursue accelerated growth strategies anchored on private sector-led economic growth. We will ensure a practical framework to strengthen and regulate the informal business sector,” said Deputy Minister Modi.

“We will pursue an aggressive entrepreneurship drive and create an enabling environment that will make it easy for Zimbabweans, particularly the youth, to start and sustain their businesses.”

The deputy minister said Government will continue to pay special attention to small businesses and co-operatives in underdeveloped areas such as townships and rural communities, where there is inadequate infrastructure and appropriate policies to protect informal businesses.

“Each one of us has a responsibility to change the economic landscape of Zimbabwe, so that it can benefit everyone. All of us must work together to give flesh and content to the economic transformation agenda that we are pursuing. If we are all committed to turning our economy around and creating more jobs, we have a duty and responsibility to invest in small businesses and co-operatives,” he said.

YNC managing director, Mr Philimon Nyirenda said they would make efforts to ensure that economic development initiatives go down in history as one of the most inclusive interventions that will tip the scale towards creating an inclusive economy that benefits all.

“Our Government has committed to set the country on a path of radical economic transformation to accelerate our onslaught on the triple challenge of poverty, inequality and unemployment, in line with Vision 2030,” he said.

“Our collective responsibility is to engage and work with all Government Ministries.”

Managing director of Wakatek Solar, Mr Donald Musundire noted that the event came at a time when young people were busy working to sustain the global economic recovery through various employment and business. — chronicle