Youth Network Connect celebrates localisation of local goods, services
YOUTH Network Connect (YNC) recently hosted the Top 100 Entrepreneur Awards, which were meant to promote competitiveness aimed at unlocking Zimbabwe’s industry and trade potential through structured support of the production and consumption of local goods and services.
YNC, a Bulawayo organisation, was designed and dedicated to promoting professional development activities and creating life-changing experiences for youth success by supporting community organisations through networking, youth policy advocacy and increasing youth participation on issues that affect them.
The organisation’s managing director Mr Philemon Nyirenda said the event aimed to provide entrepreneurs with a solid platform for recognition, networking, and continuous growth.
“The top 100 event was for celebrating localisation, which has positioned itself as a champion of competitiveness mandated to unlock Zimbabwe’s industry and trade potential through structured support of production and consumption of local goods and services,” he said.
Mr Nyirenda said the synergies envisioned by YNC are aimed at pursuing accelerated growth strategies anchored on private sector-led economic growth.
“Our programmes will ensure a practical framework to strengthen and regulate the informal business sector. 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,” he said.
Mr Nyirenda said they will pay particular attention to small businesses and co-operatives in townships and rural communities where there is a lack of adequate infrastructure and appropriate policies to protect informal businesses.
He said the event was an opportune moment to celebrate, reward and support excellence in the local value chains, which will help foster the culture of local production and local consumption to stimulate inclusive and sustainable growth patterns for higher productivity.
“The call to action is unambiguous! Each one of us has a responsibility to change the economic landscape of Zimbabwe so that it can benefit all.
“All of us must work together to give flesh and content to the economic transformation agenda that we are pursuing,” said Mr Nyirenda.
“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.”
Dr Oma Samar who was the guest of honour during the awards ceremony said investment is critical for economic and social development in any country.
He said investment, in particular, can help African countries move up the value chain and shift to more profitable sectors leading to more opportunities to scale up production, employment and participation in global value chains.
“Investments linked to national enterprises can further accelerate development through technology diffusion and skills building and can have a positive effect within and across sectors,” said Dr Samar. — chronicle
